Definition
A Charted Visual Flight Procedure (CVFP) Approach is a published visual approach procedure used at certain towered airports, depicted on a chart with prominent landmarks, recommended altitudes, and a specified ground track to the runway. It is flown only in visual meteorological conditions, requires the pilot to have the airport or a preceding aircraft in sight, and is issued by ATC primarily to reduce noise impact, manage traffic flow, or simplify arrivals into complex airspace.
Plain English
A visual approach with a printed chart that shows you which landmarks to follow, what altitudes to fly, and what path to take to the runway. You fly it by looking outside, not by instruments, and you only get it when the weather is good.
Context Anchor
You may see a CVFP approach on an approach chart or hear it assigned by air traffic control when arriving at an airport that uses a published visual route.
Derivation
From 'charted' (drawn on a published chart), 'visual' (flown by looking outside), 'flight procedure' (a defined sequence of steps). The name itself describes what makes it different from a standard visual approach: there is a chart with specific landmarks and altitudes to follow.
Why Pilots Care
Allows safe and standardized visual approaches, especially in busy airspace or near noise-sensitive areas.
Intuition Check
Do not treat a CVFP approach as the same thing as any visual approach. A CVFP uses a specific published charted route, not just any path the pilot chooses visually.
Example Sentence 1
Approach cleared us for the River Visual Runway 19, a CVFP that follows the Potomac and keeps us clear of restricted airspace.
Example Sentence 2
Following the published CVFP Approach kept the aircraft clear of terrain during the visual segment.