Definition
An instrument approach in which the autopilot, linked to the aircraft's navigation receivers, automatically flies the lateral and/or vertical guidance of the approach. The pilot monitors the autopilot's performance and remains responsible for configuration, communications, and the decision to land or go around. A coupled approach may follow the lateral course only, or both the lateral course and the vertical glidepath, depending on the equipment and the type of approach being flown.
Plain English
An approach where the autopilot is connected to the navigation system and flies the approach path itself, while the pilot watches over it and handles everything else.
Context Anchor
Used during instrument approaches in aircraft equipped with an autopilot that can follow navigation guidance.
Derivation
Coupled' comes from the Latin copula, meaning a link or connection. Here it describes the autopilot being electronically linked to the navigation signals, so it can follow them automatically.
Why Pilots Care
It lowers workload during the most demanding phase of flight and improves tracking accuracy when visibility is low.
Grounding Statement
In a coupled approach, the navigation system provides the path and the autopilot flies that path under the pilot’s supervision.
Intuition Check
“Coupled” does not mean the airplane is landing itself. It means the autopilot is connected to the approach guidance and is following it while the pilot remains in charge.
Example Sentence 1
In low visibility, the captain elected to fly a coupled approach so the autopilot would track both the localizer and glideslope down to minimums.
Example Sentence 2
During the coupled approach the aircraft remained on centerline even though the pilot had his hands off the controls.