Definition
A designation in the title of certain RNAV (GPS) and RNP instrument approach procedures indicating that the procedure may only be flown by operators and aircraft that have received specific FAA authorization. These procedures involve advanced navigation performance, specialized aircrew training, and aircraft equipment qualifications beyond those required for standard RNAV approaches, often because they include curved path segments (RF legs), reduced lateral containment, or operations into demanding terrain or airspace.
Plain English
An approach labeled 'AR' is one that only specially approved pilots, aircraft, and operators are allowed to fly. Regular IFR-rated pilots and standard GPS-equipped aircraft cannot legally use it without that approval.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument procedure names, chart titles, and notes, especially on procedures labeled RNAV (RNP) with AR requirements.
Derivation
The phrase is descriptive: 'authorization required' literally means permission must be obtained before use. The FAA chose this wording to make the restriction visible right in the procedure title, so a crew without approval can identify at a glance that the approach is not available to them.
Why Pilots Care
Determines whether a flight is legally permitted to use the procedure and its lower landing limits.
Intuition Check
Do not read Authorization Required as simple permission from air traffic control. Here it means prior formal approval to use that specific kind of procedure.
Example Sentence 1
Our company is approved for RNP AR operations, so we can file the RNAV (RNP) Z approach into the mountain airport.
Example Sentence 2
Without Authorization Required approval, the flight used the higher published minima for the non-AR version of the approach.