INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE
Pilot/Controller Glossary with JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov
A series of predetermined maneuvers for the orderly transfer of an aircraft under instrument flight conditions from the beginning of the initial approach to a landing or to a point from which a landing may be made visually. It is prescribed and approved for a specific airport by competent authority.
- U.S. civil standard instrument approach procedures are approved by the FAA as prescribed under 14 CFR part 97 and are available for public use.
- U.S. military standard instrument approach procedures are approved and published by the Department of Defense.
- Special instrument approach procedures are approved by the FAA for individual operators but are not published in 14 CFR part 97 for public use.
See SEGMENTS OF AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE; INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE ICAO.
Refer to 14 CFR part 91; AIM.
ICAO definition
A series of predetermined maneuvers by reference to flight instruments with specified protection from obstacles from the initial approach fix, or where applicable, from the beginning of a defined arrival route to a point from which a landing can be completed and thereafter, if a landing is not completed, to a position at which holding or en route obstacle clearance criteria apply.