Definition
A digital flight instrument system that presents aircraft attitude, airspeed, altitude, heading, vertical speed, and navigation information on one or more computer-driven screens, replacing the traditional set of separate mechanical (analog) cockpit instruments.
Plain English
A flat-screen display in the cockpit that shows the same flight information that used to come from several round dial gauges, all combined onto one or two screens.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft with glass cockpit equipment, instrument flying procedures, cockpit checks, and discussions of primary flight displays and navigation displays.
Derivation
From 'electronic' (using digital circuitry and screens) plus 'flight display' (a presentation of flight information). The term contrasts directly with the older mechanical or 'steam gauge' instruments it replaces.
Why Pilots Care
EFDs reduce workload by combining multiple instruments into one display and improve situational awareness during instrument flight.
Intuition Check
Do not assume an EFD is any electronic screen in the cockpit. Here, it means an installed flight-instrument display that presents information used to fly and navigate the aircraft.
Example Sentence 1
Before her first lesson in the G1000-equipped Cessna, the student spent an hour on the ground learning how to read the electronic flight display.
Example Sentence 2
Modern training aircraft use an electronic flight display to replace the traditional six-pack of instruments.