Definition
The collective set of onboard avionics that allow a pilot to determine the aircraft's position and intended course (navigation) and to exchange voice or data messages with air traffic control and other stations (communication). Typical components include VHF communication radios, VOR and ILS receivers, GPS units, transponders, and audio panels.
Plain English
The radios and instruments in the cockpit that help the pilot figure out where the aircraft is, where it's going, and let the pilot talk to controllers and other aircraft.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying, cockpit equipment checks, avionics panel discussions, and aircraft requirements for instrument flight.
Derivation
Navigation comes from older words meaning to travel by ship. Communication comes from a word meaning to share or make common. Together, the phrase points to equipment that helps the pilot travel on course and share information with others.
Why Pilots Care
Reliable navigation and communication equipment is required for safe flight under instrument conditions and for compliance with air traffic control instructions.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as just any electronic equipment in the aircraft. In this context, it means the specific equipment used for finding or following a route and for communicating during flight.
Example Sentence 1
Before departure, the pilot checked all navigation and communication equipment to confirm the radios, GPS, and transponder were working correctly.
Example Sentence 2
A complete loss of navigation/communication equipment in clouds forces the pilot to fly basic attitude and heading references until visual conditions are reached.