Definition
A computer-generated, three-dimensional depiction of the outside world shown on a cockpit display, built from terrain, obstacle, and airport databases combined with the aircraft's GPS position, attitude, and heading data. The image presents terrain, water, sky, runways, and obstacles in their correct positions relative to the aircraft, regardless of actual outside visibility.
Plain English
A picture on the cockpit display that shows the pilot what the world outside would look like, drawn by the computer using stored maps and the aircraft's position. It looks like a clear-day view even when it's dark or the weather is bad.
Context Anchor
Seen on advanced cockpit displays during instrument flying, approaches, night operations, or low-visibility situations.
Derivation
Synthetic means made by combining parts rather than naturally occurring. Here the image is synthetic because it's built by a computer from databases, not captured by a camera or seen through the windshield. Vision refers to what the pilot would see if conditions allowed.
Why Pilots Care
It significantly reduces the chance of flying into terrain or obstacles when visibility is poor, providing a clear picture of the surroundings.
Analogy
It is like a navigation app’s 3D road view: useful for picturing where you are, but still generated from map data rather than from your eyes.
Grounding Statement
The display is trying to show the pilot a clear outside scene when the real outside scene may be dark, hazy, or hidden by clouds.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a synthetic vision image is a real-time camera view. It is a computer-generated picture based on stored information and the aircraft’s sensed position.
Example Sentence 1
On the night approach into the mountain airport, the synthetic vision image clearly showed the rising terrain on either side of the valley.
Example Sentence 2
As the aircraft descended, the synthetic vision image highlighted the nearby mountains that were not visible outside.