Definition
Published FAA charts that depict the procedure for an instrument approach providing only lateral (horizontal) course guidance to a runway or airport, without electronic vertical (glidepath) guidance. These charts show the approach course, minimum descent altitudes, missed approach instructions, navigation aids, and required fixes used when flying approaches such as VOR, NDB, LOC, or LNAV-only RNAV approaches.
Plain English
Charts pilots use to fly an instrument approach that tells you which way to go but does not give you an automatic glide path down to the runway. The pilot still has to manage the descent themselves using altitude steps shown on the chart.
Context Anchor
Used during instrument approach planning and approach briefing, and also useful when checking runway, terrain, and descent information that may affect landing judgment.
Derivation
Nonprecision' simply means 'not precision.' A precision approach provides both lateral and vertical electronic guidance; a nonprecision approach is missing the vertical part. The word does not mean inaccurate or sloppy — it is a regulatory category, not a comment on quality.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots must manage their own descent rate without vertical guidance, increasing the risk of landing errors from optical illusions.
Intuition Check
Nonprecision does not mean sloppy, unsafe, or unofficial. It means the approach lacks an approved vertical guidance path, so the pilot must manage the descent using the published chart information.
Example Sentence 1
Before starting the descent, the pilot briefed the nonprecision instrument approach procedure chart, noting the minimum descent altitude and the missed approach point.
Example Sentence 2
Training emphasized how nonprecision instrument approach procedure charts require careful descent planning compared to ILS charts.