Definition
The portion of an instrument approach procedure in which alignment and descent for landing are accomplished. It begins at the final approach fix or point and ends at the missed approach point or runway threshold, depending on the procedure.
Plain English
The last part of an instrument approach, where the aircraft is lined up with the runway and descending toward landing. If the runway is not in sight at the end of this segment, the pilot must go missed.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument approach charts and in instrument flying discussions, especially when identifying where the final descent toward landing begins.
Derivation
Final comes from a Latin word meaning “last” or “at the end.” Approach means moving nearer to something. Segment comes from a Latin word meaning “a piece cut off.” Together, the term means the last defined piece of the approach procedure.
Why Pilots Care
This segment contains the decision altitude or height where the pilot must commit to landing or execute a missed approach, directly affecting safety and procedure compliance.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as just “the last bit before landing” in a casual sense. In instrument flying, the Final Approach Segment is a specific published part of the approach with defined start and end points.
Example Sentence 1
Once established on the final approach segment, the pilot configured the aircraft for landing and began the descent toward minimums.
Example Sentence 2
During the final approach segment the pilot tracked the localizer and glideslope to minimums.