Approach plate
Encyclopedia
Approach Plates is a common term used to describe the printed procedures or charts, more formally Instrument Approach Procedures, that pilots use to fly approaches during Instrument Flight Rules
(IFR) operations. Each country maintains their own instrument approach procedures according to International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) standards. In the United States
, these procedures are available from the Federal Aviation Administration
, as well as private publishers such as Jeppesen Sanderson
. In Canada
, Nav Canada
maintains the Canada Air Pilot, or CAP, which contains all Transport Canada
approved approaches. The Restricted Canada Air Pilot, or RCAP, contains additional approaches available to commercial operators who have been granted Op Spec 099.
Approach Plates are essential for an airplane to make a safe landing during instrument meteorological conditions
(IMC), such as low ceilings
or reduced visibility due to fog, rain, or blowing snow. They provide specific waypoints and altitudes necessary to line aircraft up with a designated runway for landing, along with important navigational information, such as radio frequencies of navigational aid
s and required course headings, along with the prescribed minimum visibility requirements to execute the selected approach.
Due to their importance, approach plates are published with expiration dates and are updated on a frequent basis. Pilots are responsible for maintaining a current set, and penalties are levied if a pilot is caught using expired plates during a flight in which they are required.
The image shown is of an earlier-style plate, characterized by the Missed Approach
instructions near the bottom of the plate image. Later plates have converted to a standard format with the Missed Approach at the top of the plate.
Electronic Approach Plates
Instrument flight rules
Instrument flight rules are one of two sets of regulations governing all aspects of civil aviation aircraft operations; the other are visual flight rules ....
(IFR) operations. Each country maintains their own instrument approach procedures according to International Civil Aviation Organization
International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth...
(ICAO) standards. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, these procedures are available from the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
, as well as private publishers such as Jeppesen Sanderson
Jeppesen
Jeppesen is an American company that specializes in navigational information, operations management solutions and flight training products and services...
. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Nav Canada
NAV CANADA
Nav Canada is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system .The company employs approximately 2,000 air traffic controllers , 800 flight service specialists and 700 technologists...
maintains the Canada Air Pilot, or CAP, which contains all Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
approved approaches. The Restricted Canada Air Pilot, or RCAP, contains additional approaches available to commercial operators who have been granted Op Spec 099.
Approach Plates are essential for an airplane to make a safe landing during instrument meteorological conditions
Instrument meteorological conditions
Instrument meteorological conditions is an aviation flight category that describes weather conditions that require pilots to fly primarily by reference to instruments, and therefore under Instrument Flight Rules , rather than by outside visual references under Visual Flight Rules . Typically, this...
(IMC), such as low ceilings
Ceiling (aeronautics)
With respect to aircraft, a ceiling is the maximum density altitude an aircraft can reach under a set of conditions.The word ceiling can also refer to the height of the lowest obscuring cloud layer above the ground.-Service ceiling:...
or reduced visibility due to fog, rain, or blowing snow. They provide specific waypoints and altitudes necessary to line aircraft up with a designated runway for landing, along with important navigational information, such as radio frequencies of navigational aid
Navigational aid
A navigational aid is any sort of marker which aids the traveler in navigation; the term is most commonly used to refer to nautical or aviation travel...
s and required course headings, along with the prescribed minimum visibility requirements to execute the selected approach.
Due to their importance, approach plates are published with expiration dates and are updated on a frequent basis. Pilots are responsible for maintaining a current set, and penalties are levied if a pilot is caught using expired plates during a flight in which they are required.
The image shown is of an earlier-style plate, characterized by the Missed Approach
Missed approach
Missed approach is an instrument flight rules procedure which is a standard component segment of an instrument approach. Generally, if the pilot flying or the pilot in command determines by the time the aircraft is at the decision height or missed approach point , that the runway or its...
instructions near the bottom of the plate image. Later plates have converted to a standard format with the Missed Approach at the top of the plate.
External links
- Aeronautical Chart User's Guide at FAA National Aeronautical Charting Office (NACO)
- FAA Instrument Procedures Handbook
Electronic Approach Plates
- FAA Approach Plates are available in electronic form from the FAA, as well as third party vendors.