Definition
The fix depicted on an instrument approach procedure chart that identifies the beginning of the feeder route, which carries an aircraft from the en route structure to the initial approach fix (IAF).
Plain English
A named point on an approach chart that marks where the path leading you from your en route flight onto the approach itself begins.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument approach charts before the main approach path, especially when the chart shows how to get from nearby routing onto the approach.
Derivation
‘Feeder’ comes from the idea of feeding something into a larger system — here, feeding the aircraft from the en route phase into the approach. Knowing this makes the term self-explanatory: the fix is the start of the path that feeds you in.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures orderly flow of traffic into busy airports, reducing delays and maintaining separation.
Intuition Check
Do not read “fix” as something being repaired. Here, a fix is a known position in the sky. A feeder fix is the position where a published path starts feeding you toward the approach.
Example Sentence 1
ATC cleared us direct to the feeder fix, then to follow the published route to the IAF.
Example Sentence 2
At the feeder fix, approach control took over and began vectoring us to final.