Definition
An instrument approach procedure approved by the FAA for use by a specific operator to a specific airport, but not published in the standard charts available to the general flying public. It is issued to operators who have demonstrated the training, equipment, and operational need to use it safely.
Plain English
A custom-built instrument approach into a specific airport that only certain authorized operators are allowed to fly. It is not printed in the regular approach charts everyone else uses.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA procedure discussions, company operations, airport access planning, and situations where an approach exists but is not available to all pilots.
Derivation
"Special" here means restricted in use, not exceptional in quality. It is special in the sense of being issued to a specific user, not available to the general public.
Why Pilots Care
It allows safe instrument arrivals at locations where no standard procedure exists, but only after the operator completes required training and receives formal approval.
Intuition Check
Do not read “special” as meaning “better,” “more advanced,” or “optional.” In this FAA use, “special” means limited to specific approved users, not generally available to every pilot.
Example Sentence 1
The company holds authorization for a Special Instrument Approach Procedure into the private mountain airstrip, so only its trained pilots may fly it.
Example Sentence 2
Before the flight, the crew reviewed the special instrument approach procedure and completed the required briefing.