Definition
LPV is a type of GPS-based instrument approach that provides both lateral and vertical guidance to the runway, using SBAS (in the United States, the Wide Area Augmentation System, or WAAS) to improve the accuracy and integrity of GPS signals. It is classified as an APV — an Approach with Vertical guidance — meaning it is not a precision approach in the traditional ICAO sense, but it provides glidepath guidance similar to an ILS. On a flight plan, the equipment code listed indicates that the aircraft is approved and equipped to fly LPV approaches.
Plain English
LPV is a satellite-guided approach that gives the pilot both side-to-side and up-and-down guidance to the runway, much like an ILS, but using GPS signals corrected by ground stations for better accuracy.
Context Anchor
Seen in IFR flight plan equipment codes and in discussions of RNAV instrument approach capability.
Derivation
‘Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance’ borrows its name from the ILS Localizer — the lateral guidance component of an Instrument Landing System. The phrase signals that the GPS-based approach performs similarly to a Localizer laterally, with vertical guidance added. ‘Augmentation’ comes from Latin ‘augere,’ meaning ‘to increase’ — SBAS increases the accuracy and reliability of the basic GPS signal.
Why Pilots Care
It permits lower landing minimums and greater access to airports that lack a traditional ILS.
Grounding Statement
In practice, LPV lets an approved GPS-style system show the pilot whether the aircraft is left or right of course and high or low on the descent path.
Intuition Check
LPV does not mean there is a ground-based localizer installed for that runway. It means the aircraft uses satellite navigation with SBAS corrections to get localizer-like guidance.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot filed the appropriate equipment code so ATC would know the aircraft was capable of flying the LPV approach into the destination airport.
Example Sentence 2
With LPV available the minimum descent altitude was lower than for a non-precision approach to the same runway.