Definition
An airport identified by the FAA as requiring a cold temperature altitude correction on one or more published instrument approach segments when the reported airport temperature is at or below a specified value. These airports are listed in the Chart Supplement with the temperature threshold and the affected segment(s), and pilots must apply the correction to the affected altitudes when operating at or below that threshold.
Plain English
An airport on an FAA list where, when it gets cold enough, pilots have to add height to certain published approach altitudes to make sure they're actually as high as the chart says. The list tells you the temperature at which the rule kicks in and which part of the approach it applies to.
Context Anchor
Seen when planning or flying an instrument approach to an airport with a published cold-temperature limitation.
Derivation
Restricted comes from a Latin word meaning “to limit or hold back.” Here, the airport is not closed; the use of certain approach altitudes is limited by temperature unless the pilot applies the required correction.
Why Pilots Care
Without applying the required altitude corrections, the aircraft may descend below minimum safe altitudes, risking collision with terrain or obstacles.
Grounding Statement
In very cold air, the airplane’s indicated altitude can read higher than its actual height above the ground on an approach.
Intuition Check
“Restricted” does not mean the airport is closed or only special pilots may use it. It means cold temperature creates a limitation that must be handled by correcting the affected approach altitudes.
Example Sentence 1
Before the approach into Anchorage, the crew checked the Chart Supplement and confirmed it was a cold temperature restricted airport, then applied the required correction to the intermediate segment altitude.
Example Sentence 2
At a cold temperature restricted airport with a temperature of minus ten degrees Celsius, the pilot added four hundred feet to all published altitudes on the final approach segment.