Definition
The altitude at which an aircraft should be established when crossing the approach gate, which is a fix on the final approach course typically located one mile from the final approach fix (FAF) on the side away from the airport. It is the altitude that puts the aircraft on the published glidepath or descent profile at that point, ready to begin or continue the final descent to the runway.
Plain English
The height the aircraft should be at when it reaches the point just outside the final approach fix, so it lines up correctly with the descent path down to the runway.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument descent planning and stabilized approach discussions, especially when deciding when to start down and when the aircraft must be ready to continue toward landing.
Derivation
‘Gate’ here borrows the everyday sense of a controlled point you must pass through. The approach gate is a defined point on final where the aircraft must ‘pass through’ at the right altitude and alignment to make the rest of the approach work.
Why Pilots Care
Reaching this altitude at the correct point confirms the aircraft is on the proper vertical path for a stabilized final approach.
Grounding Statement
Picture the aircraft descending toward the runway: by this planned altitude, it should already be lined up, slowed, configured, and descending in a controlled way.
Intuition Check
Do not think of the approach gate altitude as a physical gate or an altitude assigned by air traffic control. It is a planning and safety checkpoint used to judge whether the aircraft is ready to continue the approach.
Example Sentence 1
ATC vectored us to intercept the localizer so we’d cross the approach gate at the published altitude.
Example Sentence 2
Maintaining the approach gate altitude helped the crew confirm they were aligned for the final descent.