Definition
A wideband electronic amplifier designed to boost the strength of high-frequency signals carrying picture or pulse information, such as those produced by a radar receiver or a television camera, before they are sent to a display device.
Plain English
A circuit that takes a weak picture or radar signal and makes it strong enough to drive a screen or display.
Context Anchor
Seen in avionics maintenance, especially in descriptions of radar displays and other cockpit display equipment.
Derivation
From Latin 'videre' meaning 'to see,' giving 'video' (signals that produce a visible image), combined with 'amplifier' (something that makes larger). Together: a circuit that strengthens signals destined to be seen.
Why Pilots Care
A faulty video amplifier can produce dim, distorted, or missing displays on weather radar and navigation screens, reducing the pilot's ability to maintain situational awareness.
Intuition Check
“Video” does not necessarily mean a camera or movie here. In this context, it means the electrical signal that creates a visible picture on a display.
Example Sentence 1
The weather radar's video amplifier strengthens the returning signal so that storm cells appear clearly on the cockpit display.
Example Sentence 2
During the instrument scan the pilot noticed the navigation screen brighten after the video amplifier was adjusted.