Definition
Data provided by navigation instruments or systems that tells the pilot where the aircraft is located relative to a known reference, such as a navigation aid, course, fix, or geographic point.
Plain English
Information that tells you where you are in the sky relative to something you can find on a chart or set in your equipment.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument navigation discussions when describing what navigation radios, satellite navigation equipment, and cockpit displays provide to the pilot.
Derivation
“Positional” comes from “position,” meaning a place or location. That helps here because the term is about the aircraft’s place in relation to something fixed or planned, not about the aircraft’s attitude, speed, or engine condition.
Why Pilots Care
It allows the pilot to confirm location, follow assigned routes, and maintain safe separation from terrain and traffic.
Analogy
It is like the location dot on a phone map: the dot is useful because it shows where you are compared with roads, turns, and your destination.
Intuition Check
Do not read “positional information” as any information shown in the cockpit. Here it specifically means information about the aircraft’s location relative to a reference or intended path.
Example Sentence 1
The VOR provided positional information showing the aircraft was three miles left of the inbound course.
Example Sentence 2
Loss of positional information forced the pilot to request vectors from air traffic control.