Definition
In Performance Based Navigation (PBN) operations, the act of an aircraft returning to the laterally and vertically defined flight path after a deviation, so that it is once again following the cleared route within the required navigation tolerances.
Plain English
Getting back on the planned route after drifting or being moved off it, so the aircraft is again tracking exactly where it is supposed to be.
Context Anchor
Seen in ATC automation and flight plan tracking discussions; pilots usually encounter the result through updated clearances or controller instructions, not as a radio phrase they normally say.
Derivation
From 're-' meaning 'again' and 'conformance' meaning 'following or complying with.' So reconformance literally means 'coming back into compliance' — in this case, back onto the defined flight path.
Why Pilots Care
Restoring reconformance keeps the aircraft safely separated from other traffic and satisfies regulatory and clearance requirements.
Intuition Check
Reconformance does not mean the pilot is re-confirming a clearance. It means ATC automation is making its calculated aircraft path conform, or match, the known aircraft information.
Example Sentence 1
After the deviation around the storm, the crew flew direct to the next waypoint to achieve reconformance with the arrival procedure.
Example Sentence 2
The crew monitored the FMS until reconformance was confirmed following the temporary reroute.