Definition
The phrase 'Segments of' is a fragment, not a standalone aviation term. In the AIM and FAA publications, it appears as the opening of compound terms that describe distinct portions of a flight, an approach, or an airway — for example 'Segments of an Instrument Approach Procedure' (initial, intermediate, final, and missed approach segments) or 'Segments of Flight' (takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, approach, landing). Each compound term has its own specific meaning and is defined separately.
Plain English
Segments of' is the start of a phrase, not a complete term on its own. It introduces a list of named parts that make up something larger, like the parts of an approach or the parts of a flight. To find the meaning, look up the full phrase that begins with 'Segments of'.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA descriptions such as segments of an approach, route, or airspace structure.
Derivation
Segment' comes from the Latin segmentum, meaning a piece cut off, from secare, to cut. In aviation it carries this same sense — a clearly bounded piece of a larger whole, such as one stage of an approach or one leg of an airway.
Why Pilots Care
If a procedure is divided into segments, the instructions can change from one segment to the next. A pilot needs to know which part they are in before applying the correct course, altitude, or action.
Intuition Check
Do not read “segments of” as a vague way of saying “some parts.” In FAA use, a segment is usually a defined part with a specific role or instruction.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor told the student to review the segments of an instrument approach procedure before the next lesson.
Example Sentence 2
Each of the segments of the missed approach must be flown at or above the published altitudes.