Definition
An air traffic control procedure permitting simultaneous instrument approaches to airports having converging runways. Each approach is flown independently of the others, and the missed approach paths must diverge by at least 30 degrees so that aircraft going around will not conflict.
Plain English
Two airports' runways point toward each other rather than running side by side, and controllers let aircraft fly approaches to both runways at the same time without coordinating between them. The escape paths if anyone has to abandon the approach are angled apart enough that nobody runs into anyone else.
Context Anchor
Seen in air traffic control procedures and airport operations at airports with angled runway layouts using instrument approaches.
Derivation
Converging' comes from the Latin convergere, meaning 'to incline together' — the runways or flight paths come toward each other rather than running parallel. 'Independent' here means the approaches are not coordinated with each other in real time; each is run on its own.
Why Pilots Care
Allows higher landing rates and fewer delays at airports whose runways meet at an angle.
Grounding Statement
Picture two airplanes lined up for two different runways that point toward the airport from different angles, with both continuing inbound under a planned control procedure.
Intuition Check
Do not read “converging” as “about to collide,” and do not read “independent” as “uncontrolled.” In this FAA use, it means approved procedures allow separate aircraft to approach different angled runway paths at the same time.
Example Sentence 1
Tower advised us we'd be running simultaneous converging independent approaches today, with our missed approach turning right to keep us clear of the other runway's traffic.
Example Sentence 2
The approach controller monitored separation closely while the aircraft flew simultaneous converging independent approaches.