5-10-2

Approach Information

JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov

Issue the following information to an aircraft that will conduct a radar approach. Current approach information contained in the ATIS broadcast may be omitted if the pilot states the appropriate ATIS broadcast code. All items listed below, except for subparagraph 3 may be omitted after the first approach if repeated approaches are made and no change has occurred. Transmissions with aircraft in this phase of the approach should occur approximately every minute.
Reference

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-7-10, Approach Information.
1. Altimeter setting.
2. If available, ceiling and visibility if the ceiling at the airport of intended landing is reported below 1,000 feet or below the highest circling minimum, whichever is greater, or if the visibility is less than 3 miles. Advise pilots when weather information is available via the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS)/Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) and, if requested, issue the appropriate frequency.
  Note
  
  Automated weather observing systems may be set to provide one minute updates. This one minute data may be useful to the pilot for possible weather trends. Controllers provide service based solely on official weather, i.e., hourly and special observations.
3. Issue any known changes classified as special weather observations as soon as possible. Special weather observations need not be issued after they are included in the ATIS broadcast and the pilot states the appropriate ATIS broadcast code.
4. Pertinent information on known airport conditions if they are considered necessary to the safe operation of the aircraft concerned.
5. Lost communication procedures as specified in paragraph 5-10-4, Lost Communications.
Before starting final approach:
Note
1. ASR approach procedures may be prescribed for specific runways, for an airport/heliport, and for helicopters only to a “point‐in‐space,“ i.e., a MAP from which a helicopter must be able to proceed to the landing area by visual reference to a prescribed surface route.
2. Occasionally, helicopter PAR approaches are available to runways where conventional PAR approaches have been established. In those instances where the two PAR approaches serve the same runway, the helicopter approach will have a steeper glide slope and a lower decision height. By the controllers designating the approach to be flown, the helicopter pilot understands which of the two approaches he/she has been vectored for and which set of minima apply.
1. Inform the aircraft of the type of approach, runway, airport, heliport, or other point, as appropriate, to which the approach will be made. Specify the airport name when the approach is to a secondary airport.
  Phraseology
  
  THIS WILL BE A P-A-R/SURVEILLANCE APPROACH TO:
  RUNWAY (runway number),
  or
  (airport name) AIRPORT, RUNWAY (runway number),
  or
  (airport name) AIRPORT/HELIPORT.
  THIS WILL BE A COPTER P-A-R APPROACH TO:
  RUNWAY (runway number),
  or
  (airport name) AIRPORT, RUNWAY (runway number),
  or
  (airport name) AIRPORT/HELIPORT.
2. For surveillance approaches, specify the location of the MAP in relation to the runway/airport/heliport.
  Phraseology
  
  MISSED APPROACH POINT IS (distance) MILE(S) FROM RUNWAY/AIRPORT/HELIPORT,
  or for a point‐in‐space approach,
  A MISSED APPROACH POINT (distance) MILE(S) (direction from landing area) OF (airport name) AIRPORT/HELIPORT.
  
  Example
  
  Helicopter point‐in‐space approach:
  “Army copter Zulu Two, this will be a surveillance approach to a missed approach point, three point five miles south of Creedon Heliport.”
  
  Reference
  
  FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-12-10, Elevation Failure.
Inform an aircraft making an approach to an airport not served by a tower that no traffic or landing runway information is available for that airport.
Phraseology

NO TRAFFIC OR LANDING RUNWAY INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR THE AIRPORT.

Reference

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-7-2, Altimeter Setting Issuance Below Lowest Usable FL.
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-9-2, Final Approach Course Interception.