Definition
An advanced cockpit display system that presents a computer-generated, three-dimensional image of the surrounding terrain, obstacles, runways, and flight path on the primary flight display, derived from onboard databases combined with GPS position, attitude, and heading data. When approved for operational credit, SVGS allows certain instrument approach procedures to be flown to lower minimums than would otherwise be authorized, by providing the pilot with enhanced situational awareness equivalent to improved visibility.
Plain English
A cockpit display that draws a realistic picture of the world outside — hills, runways, and the airplane's path through the sky — using stored map data and the airplane's position. Because the picture gives the pilot a much clearer mental view of what's around them, regulators allow approaches to be flown in slightly worse weather than normal.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument approach and landing discussions for aircraft equipped with synthetic vision displays.
Derivation
Synthetic comes from the Greek syntithenai, meaning 'to put together' — the image is assembled by the computer rather than seen through the windshield. Vision and Guidance carry their normal meanings: what the pilot sees, and the steering cues that lead the aircraft down the approach.
Why Pilots Care
Improves situational awareness and reduces the chance of controlled flight into terrain or runway excursions when visibility is low.
Grounding Statement
If clouds hide the runway, SVGS may still show a computer-generated runway picture and path because it is using stored data and aircraft position, not the pilot’s actual outside view.
Intuition Check
Synthetic does not mean imaginary or unofficial here; it means computer-generated from approved data. SVGS is not the same as a live camera view of the real weather or runway surface.
Example Sentence 1
With SVGS installed and approved, the crew was authorized to fly the approach to lower minimums than the published baseline.
Example Sentence 2
SVGS provided a clear picture of the runway environment that helped the crew execute a safe landing after the ceiling dropped.