Definition
The portion of an instrument approach procedure during which the pilot is flying solely by reference to instruments, before acquiring the visual cues (such as the approach lights or runway environment) needed to continue the approach to landing visually.
Plain English
The part of an instrument approach where you are still flying on your instruments, before you can see the runway or its lights.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument approach and approach lighting discussions, especially when explaining how approach lights help a pilot change from instrument flying to visual landing cues near the runway.
Derivation
‘Stage’ comes from the Old French ‘estage’ meaning a step or phase. In aviation it marks one phase of a multi-phase process — here, the instrument-only phase of the approach before visual contact takes over.
Why Pilots Care
Each stage carries precise altitude and course limits that must be followed to avoid terrain, obstacles, or loss of separation.
Grounding Statement
Picture the aircraft on final approach in cloud or poor visibility, following the instruments while the pilot looks for the approach lights or runway environment ahead.
Intuition Check
Do not read “stage” as a physical platform or a lighting fixture. Here, “stage” means a phase of the flight.
Example Sentence 1
During the instrument approach stage, the pilot relied entirely on the ILS indications until the approach lights came into view.
Example Sentence 2
At the final approach fix the aircraft entered the final instrument approach stage and continued to the decision altitude.