Definition
An instrument approach procedure in which the pilot uses the aircraft's own onboard radar to identify a fixed reference point on the ground or water and navigate to a specific point in space from which a landing can be made. Authorization to conduct Airborne Radar Approaches (ARAs) is granted through Operations Specifications (OpSpecs) and is most commonly used by helicopters operating to offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, where conventional ground-based navigation aids are unavailable.
Plain English
An approach where the pilot uses the aircraft's own radar to find a target on the ground or sea -- like an oil rig -- and then flies a defined path down toward it. The radar in the aircraft is doing the job that a ground station normally does.
Context Anchor
Seen in helicopter IFR operations, especially where an operator is approved to use special procedures that are not available to every pilot in the standard public approach charts.
Derivation
Airborne means carried in the aircraft itself. Radar comes from RAdio Detection And Ranging -- using radio waves to locate objects and measure how far away they are. So the name simply states that the radar doing the work is in the aircraft, not on the ground.
Why Pilots Care
Allows safe approaches to remote or off-airport sites without relying on ground-based radar or navigation facilities.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as an ATC radar approach where a controller talks the aircraft down. In an Airborne Radar approach, the radar being used is on the aircraft, and the procedure must be specifically authorized.
Example Sentence 1
The operator's OpSpecs authorized Airborne Radar approaches to offshore platforms, so the crew briefed the ARA procedure before departing for the rig.
Example Sentence 2
Operations specifications permitted airborne radar approaches for the helicopter mission to the offshore platform.