Plain English Meaning

A clear screen sitting in front of the pilot that shows key flight information without blocking the view through the windshield. The pilot can see the runway and the instrument data at the same time, instead of looking down at the panel and back up.

Full Definition

A head-up display (HUD) is a transparent cockpit display, mounted in the pilot's forward line of sight, that projects flight information such as airspeed, altitude, attitude, heading, and flight path symbology onto a combiner glass so the pilot can read the data while still looking outside the . In and operations, HUDs are often certified as part of the approach guidance and may allow lower by presenting precise cues directly in the pilot's external view.