Definition
The section of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 97, that contains the official definitions and symbols used in Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and Takeoff and Landing Minimums. Part 97.3 establishes the regulatory meaning of terms such as decision altitude, minimum descent altitude, visibility minimums, course, bearing, and the categories of aircraft (A, B, C, D, E) used to determine approach minimums.
Plain English
This is the part of the federal aviation rules that tells you what the words and symbols on instrument approach charts officially mean. When a chart shows a minimum altitude or a category letter, Part 97.3 is where those terms are formally defined.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument procedure discussions when the handbook or FAA material points to the legal source for chart terms and symbols.
Derivation
CFR stands for Code of Federal Regulations, the official collection of US federal rules. Title 14 covers Aeronautics and Space. Part 97 is the chapter that governs Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and the .3 is simply the third section within that part, which deals with definitions and symbols.
Why Pilots Care
Correct interpretation of chart symbols is required to fly published instrument approaches safely and in compliance with regulations.
Intuition Check
Part does not mean a physical piece of something here. In a CFR citation, Part means a numbered group of federal rules; 97.3 points to a specific section within that group.
Example Sentence 1
The aircraft category letters shown on the approach chart get their official meaning from 14 CFR Part 97.3.
Example Sentence 2
Before the checkride the examiner asked the applicant to locate the definition of chart symbols in 14 CFR Part 97.3.