Definition
The section of the Code of Federal Regulations that establishes Standard Instrument Procedures, including instrument approach procedures, departure procedures, and standard terminal arrival routes used by pilots flying under instrument flight rules in the United States.
Plain English
The official rulebook section that contains the approved instrument approach, departure, and arrival procedures pilots use when flying by reference to instruments.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA publications, instrument procedure references, and legal discussions about published procedures for instrument flying.
Derivation
CFR stands for Code of Federal Regulations, the organized collection of U.S. federal rules. Title 14 covers Aeronautics and Space, and within it Part 97 is the specific part dealing with standard instrument procedures. Knowing this helps the reader recognize that any chart or procedure marked '14 CFR part 97' carries the weight of federal regulation, not just guidance.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots must comply with these procedures during IFR approaches; following them maintains separation from terrain and traffic and avoids regulatory violations.
Intuition Check
Do not read 14 CFR part 97 as a training chapter or helpful suggestion. It is a binding federal regulation section that makes certain FAA instrument procedures official.
Example Sentence 1
The ILS approach into Runway 27 is a 14 CFR part 97 procedure, so the published minimums are regulatory.
Example Sentence 2
Before flying the ILS in low visibility, the pilot reviewed the procedure published in 14 CFR part 97.