Definition
A radio transmission made by a pilot or controller without confirmation that the intended receiver is listening or able to reply. It is used when communication is one-way, suspected to be one-way, or when no response has been received but the message still needs to be sent in case it is heard.
Plain English
Sending a radio call when you are not sure anyone can hear you, in the hope that they can. You speak as if the other station is listening, even though you have no confirmation.
Context Anchor
Used in radio communication when replies are not being received, such as during a communication problem, weak radio coverage, or an attempt to reach a station that may be listening.
Derivation
The phrase "in the blind" comes from the idea of acting without being able to see — here, transmitting without being able to confirm reception. You are sending the message "blindly," not knowing if it lands.
Why Pilots Care
It allows position reports, weather updates, or emergency information to reach others even when normal two-way contact is lost, preserving safety and traffic awareness.
Intuition Check
Blind does not mean the pilot cannot see. Here it means the pilot is transmitting without receiving a reply or confirmation.
Example Sentence 1
After losing the receiver, the pilot announced, "Cessna 8421 Bravo, transmitting in the blind, ten miles south of the field, inbound for landing runway 27."
Example Sentence 2
When the handheld radio produced no reply, the crew began transmitting in the blind on the emergency frequency to alert nearby traffic.