Definition
An airport control tower that provides air traffic control services to aircraft operating on the runways and within the surface area of the airport, but does not provide approach control services. Sequencing and separation of arriving instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic is handled by a separate facility, such as a TRACON or an air route traffic control center, before the aircraft is handed off to the tower for landing.
Plain English
A control tower at an airport that handles aircraft on the runways and close to the airport surface, but does not control aircraft as they fly the instrument approach toward the airport. That job is done by a different facility, which then hands the aircraft off to the tower near the end of the approach.
Context Anchor
You may see this term in FAA facility descriptions, flight planning information, or air traffic control references that explain what services a particular tower provides.
Derivation
Nonapproach combines the prefix non (not) with approach (the phase of flight toward the airport). Control tower refers to the physical facility directing ground and local traffic. The compound signals a tower limited to the airport surface and immediate pattern.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots must know whether the tower can handle their full arrival sequence or whether they will receive approach services from a separate facility such as a TRACON.
Intuition Check
Do not read “nonapproach” as meaning aircraft do not approach that airport. It means the tower itself does not provide the separate approach control service.
Example Sentence 1
Because the field has a nonapproach control tower, the pilot received the ILS clearance from the regional approach facility before being switched to tower for landing.
Example Sentence 2
The Nonapproach Control Tower cleared the pilot to enter the traffic pattern but directed all IFR arrivals to contact approach control first.