Plain English Meaning

Things in the air around the airplane — like rough air, strong wind changes, ice, or the disturbed air left behind by another aircraft — that can push the airplane off its intended path.

Full Definition

External conditions outside the airplane that influence its flight path or handling, including weather phenomena such as turbulence, wind shear, icing, thunderstorm activity, mountain wave, and wake turbulence from other aircraft. In the context of unusual attitudes and upsets, environmental factors are causes of unintended deviation from the intended flight path that originate from the or surrounding rather than from or the airplane's .