Definition
A function on the Multi-Function Display (MFD) of a glass cockpit avionics system that lists the airports closest to the aircraft's current position, ordered by distance, along with key information such as bearing, runway length, frequency, and field elevation. The pilot accesses this list to quickly identify suitable diversion or emergency landing options.
Plain English
A page on the big cockpit screen that shows the airports nearest to where you are right now, sorted by how close they are. It's how you find the closest place to land when you need one.
Context Anchor
Seen in GPS and cockpit display use, especially when a pilot needs a quick airport choice during an instrument flight or an unexpected change of plan.
Why Pilots Care
Allows rapid identification of suitable airports for emergency landings or route adjustments.
Intuition Check
Nearest does not automatically mean best or safest. It only means physically close; the pilot must still check whether the airport is usable for the situation.
Example Sentence 1
When the oil pressure dropped, the pilot pulled up the Nearest Airports page on the MFD and selected the closest field with a paved runway.
Example Sentence 2
During the approach, the nearest airports using the MFD gave quick options for a diversion.