Definition
A published procedural chart that depicts the courses, altitudes, fixes, navigation aids, communication frequencies, and missed approach instructions a pilot must follow to descend safely from en route flight to a landing at a specific runway when flying by instruments.
Plain English
A printed or digital page that shows a pilot exactly how to fly down through the clouds and line up for landing at a particular airport, including which way to fly, how low to go, and what to do if the landing cannot be made.
Context Anchor
Used during instrument flight planning, during the approach briefing, and in the cockpit when air traffic control clears a pilot for an instrument approach.
Derivation
From Latin instrumentum (a tool) and approach, from Old French aprochier (to come near). The chart is the tool a pilot uses to come near the runway when they cannot see it from far away.
Why Pilots Care
It supplies the exact altitudes and courses needed to reach the runway safely in low visibility.
Intuition Check
Do not think of this as just a map of the airport. An instrument approach chart is a step-by-step flight procedure for reaching a runway when outside visual references may be limited.
Example Sentence 1
Before beginning the descent, the pilot pulled up the instrument approach chart for Runway 27 and briefed the minimum altitudes aloud.
Example Sentence 2
After the approach clearance, the crew followed the course and altitudes shown on the instrument approach chart.