Definition
A point where two or more Federal airways meet, cross, or join together along their published routes. On en route charts, these junctions are shown by the airway centerlines converging at a navigation aid or intersection.
Plain English
A spot where two or more airways come together. Think of it like a place where several highways meet at one junction.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument en route charts and in discussions of Federal airways, especially where a route changes from one airway to another.
Derivation
Confluence comes from the Latin confluere, meaning 'to flow together' (con- 'together' + fluere 'to flow'). It originally described rivers joining. Here, the airways are the 'rivers' that flow together at a single point.
Why Pilots Care
These points often involve higher traffic density and may require specific clearances or holding procedures.
Grounding Statement
Picture several lines on an en route chart meeting at the same named point.
Intuition Check
A confluence of airways does not mean air itself is flowing together. Here, it means charted flight routes are meeting or crossing.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor pointed to the confluence of airways near the VOR, explaining that several routes converged at that fix.
Example Sentence 2
ATC vectored us around the confluence of airways to keep us clear of arriving IFR traffic.