Definition
An approach to a runway in which the aircraft aligns with the runway centerline and descends to land without flying a standard traffic pattern. At a non-towered airport this means entering final approach directly rather than joining the downwind, base, and final legs. In instrument flying, a straight-in approach refers to an instrument approach procedure where the final approach course is aligned closely enough with the runway (within 30 degrees) that the pilot can land straight ahead from the final approach segment without circling.
Plain English
Flying directly toward the runway and lining up with it for landing, instead of flying around the airport in the usual rectangular pattern first.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA abbreviation lists, approach discussions, clearances, and procedures that describe how an aircraft will join the final approach path.
Why Pilots Care
It saves time and fuel and is often preferred when traffic and weather permit a direct alignment with the runway.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “straight-in approach” means “straight-in landing.” Here, it means the aircraft starts the final approach without first flying a course-reversal maneuver.
Example Sentence 1
Cessna 23X is ten miles east, inbound straight-in for runway 27.
Example Sentence 2
During training, students practice straight-in approaches to build precision in runway alignment.