Definition
A computer-generated, three-dimensional image of the outside world shown on a cockpit display, built from databases of terrain, obstacles, runways, and other features, and aligned with the aircraft's actual position and attitude. It gives the pilot a view that resembles what they would see out the window in clear daylight, even when the real view is obscured by darkness, cloud, or low visibility.
Plain English
A picture on a cockpit screen that shows the pilot what's outside the aircraft -- terrain, runways, obstacles -- as a realistic 3D scene, even when they can't actually see out the window.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of combined vision systems, where synthetic computer-made imagery may be shown with sensor-based imagery to help the pilot understand the outside scene.
Derivation
"Virtual" comes from Latin virtus, meaning a quality or capability -- in modern use it means something that acts like the real thing without being the real thing. So a virtual visual depiction acts like the real outside view, but is generated by the computer rather than seen through the windshield.
Why Pilots Care
Improves situational awareness and reduces the risk of controlled flight into terrain during instrument approaches.
Analogy
It is like a navigation app showing a 3D road view ahead of your car. The picture is not the actual view through the windshield, but it helps you understand what is ahead and where you are going.
Intuition Check
Virtual does not mean imaginary or unreliable here. It means a visual-style flight scene created electronically from aircraft and database information.
Example Sentence 1
On the night approach into the mountain airport, the virtual visual flight depiction on the primary flight display showed the surrounding terrain clearly, even though the pilot could see nothing outside.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots training on combined vision systems practice interpreting the virtual visual flight depiction to transition smoothly from instruments to visual references.