Definition
In the context of instrument navigation, fixes are defined geographic points on the surface of the earth — each identified by a precise latitude and longitude — that serve as named reference positions along an airway, route, or procedure. They exist as coordinates on the globe, not as physical objects in the air or on the ground.
Plain English
Exact spots on the earth, pinpointed by latitude and longitude, used as named reference points for navigation. There is nothing physically there — the location itself is the fix.
Context Anchor
Seen in fix records and instrument procedure data, where named points are listed so pilots can follow a published route or procedure accurately.
Derivation
Specific means clearly identified. Location comes from a word meaning place. Face of the earth is a plain expression for the Earth's surface, so the phrase means an exact place on the surface rather than a rough area or direction.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots navigate by flying from one named point to the next. Understanding that these points are coordinates — not beacons or markers you can see — is fundamental to how IFR routes, holding patterns, and approaches are built.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as “somewhere in that area.” In FAA procedure data, it means an exact map position identified for navigation use.
Example Sentence 1
Airways are built by stringing together specific locations on the face of the earth, each given a five-letter name like BOOKE or DRAKO.
Example Sentence 2
Database managers update the coordinates of specific locations on the face of the earth whenever a new waypoint is added to the national airspace system.