Plain English Meaning
The individual pieces of weather information — radar pictures, airport weather reports, forecasts, wind data, and so on — that a pilot can receive in the cockpit through a wireless weather service.
Full Definition
The specific set of weather information items — such as radar imagery, METARs, TAFs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, winds aloft, PIREPs, and lightning data — that are transmitted to an aircraft in flight through a data link service like FIS-B (Flight Information Service-Broadcast) or a satellite-based subscription service. Each product is a distinct type of weather information, refreshed on its own schedule, and displayed in the cockpit on a multifunction display, tablet, or portable receiver.
Context Anchor
Seen in cockpit display menus, tablet weather apps, and FAA discussions of weather information received before or during flight.
Derivation
‘Data link’ means a wireless connection that carries digital information between the ground and the aircraft. ‘Products’ here is used in the information-services sense — each separate piece of output, like a radar image or a forecast, is one ‘product.’ Knowing this helps the pilot see that a data link weather service isn’t one big feed but a menu of separate items, each with its own update cycle and limitations.
Why Pilots Care
Provides timely weather information that helps pilots avoid hazardous conditions and make better in-flight decisions.
Intuition Check
“Products” are not pieces of equipment, and “data link” does not mean a perfect live view. Data Link Weather Products are prepared weather information sent electronically, and some items may be delayed or limited.
Example Sentence 1
Before descending into the area, the pilot reviewed several data link weather products, including the latest METAR and the regional radar image.
Example Sentence 2
Before departure, the flight crew reviewed the data link weather products for any significant weather along the planned route.