Definition
Electronic flight information systems (EFIS) are cockpit displays that present flight, navigation, and engine data on screens rather than on traditional mechanical gauges. They typically combine a primary flight display showing attitude, airspeed, altitude, heading, and vertical speed with a multifunction display showing navigation, weather, traffic, terrain, and engine information.
Plain English
Modern computer screens in the cockpit that replace the old round dial instruments. Instead of a panel full of separate gauges, the pilot sees the same information drawn on one or two large displays.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of modern cockpit displays, glass cockpits, and aircraft instrument panels.
Derivation
Electronic, because the information is generated and drawn by computers; flight information, because it shows what the pilot needs to fly the aircraft; system, because the displays, sensors, and computers work together as one integrated unit.
Why Pilots Care
They reduce pilot workload by consolidating critical data, allowing faster assessment of aircraft status and improved situational awareness.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as any electronic device used in flight. Here it means the screen-based cockpit system that presents flight and navigation information to the pilot.
Example Sentence 1
The aircraft's electronic flight information systems showed airspeed, altitude, and attitude all on the primary flight display.
Example Sentence 2
Training on electronic flight information systems is required before flying aircraft equipped with glass cockpits.