Definition
Current weather information transmitted to the cockpit during flight via a data link service, allowing the pilot to view radar imagery, METARs, TAFs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, winds aloft, and other weather products on a cockpit display while airborne.
Plain English
Up-to-date weather sent straight to the airplane while you are flying, so you can see what the weather is doing without having to call anyone on the radio.
Context Anchor
Seen when discussing cockpit weather displays, flight planning tools, and in-flight decisions about changing route, altitude, or timing because of weather.
Derivation
‘Data link’ refers to a communication channel that sends digital information between two points — in this case, between a ground-based or satellite weather service and the aircraft. ‘Real time’ here means the information is delivered as it becomes available, rather than the pilot having to request a briefing on the ground hours earlier.
Why Pilots Care
Gives pilots immediate awareness of developing weather so they can adjust route or altitude before encountering hazards.
Grounding Statement
A pilot in flight may receive updated weather on a cockpit display and use it to decide whether to continue, turn around, divert, or wait.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “real time” means perfectly instant or live with no delay. In this context, it means recent enough to help in flight, but the pilot still needs to check how old the information is.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor used the flight to demonstrate how to interpret real time data link weather information on the cockpit display while planning a deviation around a line of showers.
Example Sentence 2
Before departure the instructor showed how real time data link weather information updates the moving map with the latest precipitation echoes.