Definition
Aircraft systems that use digital processors to display flight information, manage navigation, monitor engine and aircraft performance, and assist with flight planning. In modern general aviation aircraft, these include glass cockpit displays, GPS navigators, autopilots, and engine monitoring systems that replace or supplement traditional mechanical instruments.
Plain English
The computers built into the aircraft that show flight information on screens, help with navigation, and keep track of how the engine and airplane are performing.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of modern aircraft equipment, cockpit displays, warning messages, navigation equipment, and system monitoring.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots must understand these systems to use them effectively without over-reliance and to manage any failures safely.
Intuition Check
Do not assume this means any computer carried in the airplane, such as a tablet. In this context, it means computer-based systems installed in the aircraft itself.
Example Sentence 1
During preflight, the pilot powered up the onboard computerized systems and confirmed the displays, GPS, and autopilot were all functioning correctly.
Example Sentence 2
A malfunction in the onboard computerized systems required the pilot to revert to basic instrument flight.