Definition
Information issued by air traffic control (ATC) to alert a pilot to other known or observed air traffic which may be in such proximity to the position or intended route of flight of their aircraft to warrant the pilot's attention.
Plain English
A heads-up from ATC about another aircraft that's close enough to your position or flight path that you should know about it.
Context Anchor
Pilots hear Traffic Information during radio communication with air traffic control, especially when receiving flight following, arriving or departing an airport, or operating near other aircraft.
Derivation
“Traffic” originally referred to movement and activity, especially trade and travel. In aviation, it means aircraft moving in the air or on the airport surface. “Information” means something provided so you can understand and act on a situation.
Why Pilots Care
Helps pilots maintain visual separation from other aircraft and avoid mid-air collisions.
Grounding Statement
If another aircraft might affect your flight path, Traffic Information gives you a prompt to look outside and build a mental picture of where that aircraft is.
Intuition Check
Do not read “traffic” as road traffic or congestion. In this context, it means other aircraft. Do not treat Traffic Information as a clearance or a guarantee that someone else will keep you separated. It is an advisory to help you pay attention and take safe action.
Example Sentence 1
The controller passed traffic information about a Cessna at our two o'clock position, three miles, opposite direction.
Example Sentence 2
Even in visual conditions, traffic information can help spot aircraft that might not be visible yet.