Definition
The minimum altitude at which a pilot must be established when the procedure turn (PT) is completed and the aircraft is rolled out inbound on the final approach course. This altitude is published on the instrument approach chart and must be reached before crossing the final approach fix inbound, ensuring the aircraft is at or above the altitude required for the next segment of the approach.
Plain English
The lowest altitude you are allowed to be at once you finish the course-reversal turn and are heading back inbound to land. You must be at this altitude (or higher) before you cross the fix that begins the final part of the approach.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument approach procedures that use a procedure turn for course reversal before continuing inbound toward the runway.
Why Pilots Care
Completing the turn at or before this altitude keeps the aircraft on the protected path and prevents being too high or misaligned for the final approach.
Grounding Statement
Picture flying away from the airport, turning around, and coming back inbound; the PT completion altitude is the altitude floor you must respect as you finish that turnaround.
Intuition Check
Do not read “completion altitude” as a target altitude you must exactly hit. It is a minimum altitude: you may be higher, but you should not be lower unless the procedure specifically permits it.
Example Sentence 1
After turning outbound for the procedure turn, the pilot began a controlled descent so the aircraft would be at the PT completion altitude before rolling out on the inbound course.
Example Sentence 2
Charts list the PT completion altitude to maintain terrain clearance throughout the course reversal.