Definition
A cockpit display technology that uses GPS position, aircraft attitude data, and a stored terrain and obstacle database to generate a real-time, computer-rendered three-dimensional image of the outside world on the pilot's primary flight display, regardless of actual visibility conditions.
Plain English
A computer-drawn picture of the terrain, runways, and obstacles around the aircraft, shown on a cockpit screen. It looks like a clear-day view out the window even when it's dark or the weather is bad outside.
Context Anchor
Seen on electronic cockpit displays, especially in aircraft equipped for instrument flying or advanced navigation displays.
Derivation
Synthetic comes from the Greek synthetikos, meaning 'put together' or 'constructed.' The view is not real — it's constructed by a computer from stored data, so the pilot sees a built-up picture rather than the actual outside scene.
Why Pilots Care
It improves situational awareness and reduces the risk of controlled flight into terrain when visibility is poor.
Grounding Statement
If the windshield shows only cloud or darkness, the Synthetic Vision System may still show a clear computer-made picture of the terrain and runway ahead.
Intuition Check
Synthetic does not mean imaginary or optional here. It means the outside view is computer-created from aircraft data and stored terrain information, not directly seen through the windshield.
Example Sentence 1
Flying over the mountains at night, the synthetic vision system clearly showed the rising terrain ahead on the primary flight display.
Example Sentence 2
At night over the mountains the Synthetic Vision System showed the runway layout clearly on the screen before the lights became visible outside.