Definition
The angular relationship between the final approach course of an instrument approach procedure and the centerline of the runway being served. When this angle exceeds certain limits (generally more than 30 degrees from the runway centerline), the procedure cannot be published as a straight-in approach and must instead be designated as circling-only.
Plain English
How closely the path you fly during the final part of an instrument approach lines up with the runway you intend to land on. If the path points too far off the runway, you cannot land straight from it and must circle to land instead.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument procedure design and in discussions of circling-only procedures, where the approach does not line up well enough with a runway for straight-in landing minimums.
Derivation
Final comes from Latin words meaning “end” or “boundary.” Approach means “to come near.” Course means a path to be followed, and alignment means being in line. Together, the phrase points to the question: at the end of the instrument approach, is the path lined up with the runway?
Why Pilots Care
Poor alignment between the final approach course and the runway is one of the main reasons a procedure is restricted to circling. Knowing this helps pilots understand why they cannot simply continue straight to the runway from the final approach fix on certain charts, and why a circling maneuver is required to land safely.
Intuition Check
Do not read “alignment” as the pilot’s hand-flying accuracy on final. Here it means the built-in angle between the published instrument course and the runway centerline.
Example Sentence 1
Because the final approach course alignment exceeded 30 degrees from the runway centerline, the procedure was published as circling-only.
Example Sentence 2
Because the approach lacked final approach course alignment with the runway, the pilot executed the circling maneuver as published.