Definition
A cockpit display, used as part of a traffic alert and collision avoidance system, that shows the pilot a visual picture of nearby aircraft. It indicates each aircraft's relative position, altitude, and direction of movement so the pilot can see potential traffic conflicts at a glance.
Plain English
A small screen in the cockpit that shows where other nearby aircraft are, how high they are, and which way they are going.
Context Anchor
Seen on cockpit screens, moving-map displays, or dedicated traffic displays during flight, especially in busy airspace.
Why Pilots Care
It improves situational awareness and helps prevent mid-air collisions by giving immediate visual traffic information.
Intuition Check
Traffic here means other aircraft, not road traffic. A Traffic Situation Display is an aid for awareness, not a guarantee that every aircraft nearby is shown.
Example Sentence 1
On the climb out, the pilot glanced at the traffic situation display and saw another aircraft 500 feet below, crossing left to right.
Example Sentence 2
With the Traffic Situation Display showing clear airspace ahead, the flight continued its descent.