Definition
A regulatory concept requiring pilots, when weather conditions permit, to maintain vigilance to see and avoid other aircraft in flight, regardless of whether the operation is conducted under instrument flight rules or visual flight rules. The pilot is responsible for visually detecting conflicting traffic and taking action to prevent a collision.
Plain English
When you can see outside the cockpit clearly enough, you have to keep looking out the window for other aircraft and steer clear of them yourself. You can't rely on air traffic control or instruments to do it for you.
Context Anchor
Used in traffic avoidance, visual flying, pattern operations, and any situation where pilots are expected to look outside for other aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
Directly prevents mid-air collisions when traffic is not separated by ATC and establishes the pilot's legal responsibility for separation.
Grounding Statement
In practice, See and Avoid means scanning outside often enough to notice another aircraft early and change course or altitude before it becomes unsafe.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as just casual looking outside. In aviation, See and Avoid means an active responsibility to search for traffic and take action to prevent a collision.
Example Sentence 1
Although he was on an IFR clearance, the pilot remained in visual conditions and continued to apply see and avoid throughout the cruise.
Example Sentence 2
In Class E airspace the responsibility to see and avoid remains with the pilot at all times.