Definition
A Safety Alert is a notification issued by an air traffic controller to a pilot when, in the controller's judgment, the aircraft is in a position or on a course that places it in unsafe proximity to terrain, obstructions, or other aircraft. Safety Alerts are mandatory and take the form of either a Terrain/Obstruction Alert or an Aircraft Conflict/Mode C Intruder Alert. The pilot is responsible for deciding what action, if any, to take to resolve the unsafe condition.
Plain English
A direct warning from a controller telling the pilot they are too close to the ground, an obstacle, or another aircraft, and that something needs to be done about it.
Context Anchor
You may hear a Safety Alert on the radio while receiving air traffic control service, especially if your aircraft appears to be getting too close to another aircraft or too low near terrain or obstacles.
Why Pilots Care
It gives the pilot an immediate heads-up so they can change altitude, heading, or speed before the situation becomes an accident.
Intuition Check
Do not read Safety Alert as a general safety reminder. In FAA and ATC use, it means a controller is warning you about a specific possible danger right now.
Example Sentence 1
Approach issued a Safety Alert when the aircraft descended below the minimum vectoring altitude during the turn to final.
Example Sentence 2
After receiving the safety alert for converging traffic, the pilot immediately climbed to restore separation.