Plain English Meaning

Named points in the sky that pilots and controllers use as reference locations. Each fix has a fixed position, so when a chart or clearance refers to it, everyone knows exactly where it is.

Full Definition

Specific, named geographic points used in instrument flight to define routes, procedures, and reporting locations. A navigation fix is identified by precise coordinates and is established either by ground-based navigation aids (such as a VOR radial and DME distance), by the intersection of bearings, or by latitude/longitude coordinates loaded into an area navigation (RNAV) .