Plain English Meaning

An approach to a runway in poor weather where a controller watches the aircraft on radar and tells the pilot, by radio, exactly where to fly. Instead of the pilot following an onboard instrument like an ILS, the controller does the navigating and the pilot just flies the headings and, in some cases, descent advice they are given.

Full Definition

Instrument approaches in which an air traffic controller uses ground-based radar to provide navigational guidance to a pilot during the approach to a runway. The two types are the Airport Surveillance Radar () approach, which provides (/) guidance only, and the () approach, which provides azimuth and guidance. The controller issues headings and, where applicable, by radio while watching the aircraft on the radar .