Definition
An onboard collision-avoidance system that uses radar signals reflected from nearby aircraft to detect their position and movement, then displays this traffic information to the pilot on a cockpit screen so other aircraft in the vicinity can be seen and avoided.
Plain English
A system in the aircraft that spots other airplanes nearby and shows them on a screen so the pilot knows where they are and can stay clear of them.
Context Anchor
Seen on cockpit traffic displays, moving-map screens, and installed or portable equipment that helps the pilot watch for nearby aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
It improves situational awareness and reduces the chance of a mid-air collision when visual contact is limited.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a Traffic Data System sees every airplane. It only shows traffic that the system can detect or receive, so the pilot must still actively look outside.
Example Sentence 1
The Traffic Data System showed two aircraft converging from the east at a similar altitude, prompting the pilot to descend and pass below them.
Example Sentence 2
Before descending, the pilot scanned the traffic data system for any conflicting aircraft.