Definition
The average forward horizontal distance, from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight, at which prominent unlighted objects may be seen and identified by day, and prominent lighted objects may be seen and identified by night.
Plain English
How far the pilot can actually see ahead from the cockpit while flying — measured by what they can clearly make out, not by what instruments or reports say.
Context Anchor
Used in weather minimums, in-flight weather decisions, and pilot reports about what can actually be seen from the cockpit.
Derivation
“Visibility” comes from a root meaning “to see.” In aviation, the important point is not just that something is visible, but how far away it can be seen clearly enough to identify.
Why Pilots Care
It determines whether visual flight rules apply or if the pilot must switch to instrument procedures.
Intuition Check
Do not assume flight visibility means the official visibility reported on the ground. Here, it means what the pilot can see forward from the cockpit while airborne.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot determined flight visibility was about four miles, which met the requirement for VFR flight in that airspace.
Example Sentence 2
Haze reduced the flight visibility to two miles, so the pilot began an instrument approach.