Definition
The set of approach design and minima standards that apply to instrument approaches providing lateral guidance only, without electronic vertical guidance. In the side-step maneuver context, nonprecision criteria govern the descent minimums, visibility requirements, and missed approach procedures used when the pilot is cleared to land on a parallel runway adjacent to the one served by the approach.
Plain English
The rules that apply to instrument approaches that tell you where you are side-to-side but not up-and-down. These rules set the lowest altitude you can descend to and the visibility you need before landing.
Context Anchor
Seen when studying side-step maneuvers, where a pilot flies an approach to one runway and then visually moves over to land on a nearby parallel runway.
Derivation
"Nonprecision" combines "non-" (not) with "precision" (exact, from Latin praecisio, a cutting off). In approach terminology, "precision" specifically means electronic vertical guidance is provided. So "nonprecision" doesn't mean inaccurate or sloppy — it means the approach lacks electronic glideslope information, even though lateral guidance can still be very accurate.
Why Pilots Care
Determines whether a side-step to a nearby parallel runway is authorized after visual contact is made on a nonprecision approach.
Grounding Statement
For a side-step, the airplane is guided near the airport by instruments, but the final move to the parallel runway is protected using less exact standards.
Intuition Check
Nonprecision does not mean rough or unsafe. It means the procedure does not provide approved precise vertical guidance all the way to the intended runway, so different safety standards are used.
Example Sentence 1
When cleared for the side-step to the parallel runway, the pilot applied nonprecision criteria and used the published circling minimums.
Example Sentence 2
Before accepting the side-step, the pilot confirmed the runway satisfied nonprecision criteria for the published minimums.