Definition
A table published in the front of each volume of FAA Instrument Approach Procedures (IAP) charts that specifies the increases in landing minimums (visibility and/or decision altitude/MDA) required when certain airborne or ground-based components — such as approach lights, glide slope, or ALSF lighting systems — are out of service. It allows a pilot to determine the adjusted minimums for a specific approach when a listed component is inoperative.
Plain English
If something needed for an instrument approach is broken — like an approach light system or the glide slope — this table tells you how much higher or how much more visibility you need before you can legally land. It’s a lookup table for adjusting your minimums when equipment is out.
Context Anchor
Seen during preflight planning, aircraft manual review, and go/no-go decisions when an installed item is not working.
Derivation
“Inoperative” comes from “in-,” meaning “not,” and “operative,” meaning “working.” In this aviation use, it points to a part that is installed on the aircraft but is not doing its job.
Why Pilots Care
It directly determines whether an approach can be flown or what higher minimums must be used for safety.
Intuition Check
Do not read “inoperative” as “minor” or “optional.” It only means the item is not working; the table tells you whether flight is allowed and under what conditions.
Example Sentence 1
The ALSF-2 approach light system was NOTAM’d out of service, so the crew consulted the Inoperative Components Table to determine the increased visibility required for the ILS approach.
Example Sentence 2
Before starting the ILS approach the crew checked the Inoperative Components Table to confirm no adjustments were needed.