Instrument Procedures & Approaches
Instrument Procedures & Approaches is a core knowledge area on the Airline Transport Pilot FAA written exam. This hub collects our 17 in-depth, ACS-aligned instrument procedures & approaches articles — each written in plain English and grounded in the official FAA handbooks. Work through them below, then drill the topic with practice questions.
Approach Category and Circling Minima for Transport Aircraft
Aircraft approach category is determined by 1.3 times the aircraft's stall speed in landing configuration (Vso) and dictates circling minimums, protected airspace, and obstacle clearance for instrument approaches.
Required Navigation Performance (RNP AR) Approaches: Authorization and Containment
RNP AR approaches deliver curved paths and very tight accuracy requirements (as low as 0.1 NM) to reach previously inaccessible runways, but demand special aircraft capability, crew training, and FAA authorization before you can fly them.
Decision Height vs. Decision Altitude and the Role of the Radio Altimeter
Decision Height (DH) and Decision Altitude (DA) mark the point where a pilot must decide to land or go missed approach; understanding the difference—and the radio altimeter's role—is essential for safe IFR operations and the ATP written exam.
CAT II and CAT III ILS Approaches: Minima, Equipment, and Crew Requirements
CAT II and CAT III ILS approaches extend precision approach capability to decision heights as low as zero feet and runway visual ranges as low as 600 feet (CAT IIIc), demanding specialized aircraft equipment, crew training, and airport infrastructure beyond standard CAT I operations.
LPV, LNAV/VNAV, and LNAV Approach Lines of Minima Explained
LPV, LNAV/VNAV, and LNAV are three distinct lines of minima on RNAV (GPS) approach plates, each requiring different navigation performance and offering progressively lower or higher minimums based on the guidance provided.
RNAV (RNP) Approach Charting: Radius-to-Fix (RF) Legs and Missed Approach Design
RNAV (RNP) approaches use Radius-to-Fix (RF) legs to fly precise curved paths to the runway, demanding specific avionics authorization and a thorough understanding of missed approach design for safe execution.
Continuous Descent Final Approach (CDFA) Technique and Derived Decision Altitude
CDFA uses a constant-angle, stabilized descent on non-precision approaches to improve safety and replicate ILS-style technique, with a Derived Decision Altitude replacing the traditional MDA step-down.
Baro-VNAV Approaches: Temperature Limits and Vertical Path Construction
Baro-VNAV approaches use the aircraft's altimeter and air data computer to generate a vertical guidance path, but cold temperatures cause the actual flight path to be higher than indicated — requiring temperature limits or pilot-applied corrections to maintain safe obstacle clearance.
Climb Gradient to Feet-Per-Minute Conversion for Departure Procedures
Learn how to convert published climb gradient requirements (ft/NM) into feet-per-minute climb rates using your planned true airspeed, a skill essential for safely flying instrument departure procedures.
Standard Instrument Departures and Obstacle Departure Procedures for Jets
Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) define how jets safely climb through the departure environment, providing obstacle clearance and traffic flow structure from runway to en route airspace.
Cold Temperature Altitude Corrections and the Cold Temperature Restricted Airport List
Cold temperatures cause altimeters to over-read, placing aircraft lower than indicated. The FAA mandates cold temperature altitude corrections at designated restricted airports to maintain terrain and obstacle clearance.
Charted Visual Flight Procedures and Contact Approaches for Air Carriers
Charted Visual Flight Procedures (CVFPs) and Contact Approaches offer air carriers efficient paths to landing when visual conditions exist, but each carries distinct rules, pilot responsibilities, and ATC limitations that every ATP candidate must master.
Visual Descent Point and Stabilized Nonprecision Approach Profiles
A Visual Descent Point (VDP) marks the spot on a nonprecision approach from which a normal descent to landing can begin; understanding it—and flying a stabilized profile—is critical for ATP-level instrument operations.
Diverse Vector Areas and Engine-Out Departure Obstacle Analysis
Diverse vector areas (DVAs) and engine-out obstacle analysis define where ATC radar vectors can safely replace published departure procedures, and how operators must account for terrain and obstacles when an engine fails after takeoff.
Holding Pattern Speed Restrictions and Entry Techniques for Turbojets
Turbojets entering holding patterns must comply with strict AIM speed limits by altitude and use one of three FAA-defined entry techniques to remain within protected airspace.
Terminal Arrival Areas and DME Arc Navigation on RNAV Approaches
Terminal Arrival Areas (TAAs) and DME arc transitions define how RNAV/GPS approaches structure course guidance and obstacle clearance from the en route environment to the final approach fix, replacing traditional procedure turns with sector-based protected airspace.
Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO) Decision Making for Transport Aircraft
Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO) require pilots to land and stop before an intersecting runway or taxiway; transport crews must carefully evaluate available landing distance, aircraft performance, and crew coordination before accepting any LAHSO clearance.
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Articles are original summaries grounded in the public-domain FAA handbooks and cite their source. ACS-aligned study aids — not a substitute for the official handbooks or regulations.