Definition
An aircraft assigned to accompany another aircraft to a specified destination, typically to provide navigational assistance, identification, or surveillance during the flight.
Plain English
Another aircraft that flies alongside a given aircraft to guide it, watch over it, or lead it where it needs to go.
Context Anchor
Seen in emergency, lost-aircraft, radio-failure, or other abnormal-flight discussions where one aircraft may be used to help another reach a safe outcome.
Derivation
From the French escorte, meaning 'a guiding company' or 'guard.' The original sense — accompanying someone for protection or guidance — carries directly into the aviation use.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures safe handling of aircraft with communication failures or other issues by providing real-time assistance and guidance.
Intuition Check
Do not assume an escort aircraft is automatically in charge of the flight. It is there to accompany and help; the pilot of each aircraft still flies that aircraft.
Example Sentence 1
After the pilot reported a complete electrical failure, ATC arranged for an escort aircraft to lead him to the nearest suitable airport.
Example Sentence 2
Escort aircraft are used in certain procedures to accompany VFR pilots into instrument conditions.