Definition
An instrument approach procedure in which final approach is begun without first completing a procedure turn. The aircraft is already aligned (or nearly aligned) with the final approach course when the approach is initiated, so no course reversal is required.
Plain English
A type of instrument approach where the aircraft is already lined up with the runway course, so it can fly straight in toward the airport without having to turn around first.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument approach charts, especially in the profile view and minimums section, where the chart shows how the aircraft descends toward the runway.
Derivation
Approach comes from an older word meaning to come nearer. Procedure comes from a word meaning to go forward step by step. Together, the phrase points to an important idea: this is not just pointing the airplane at the runway; it is a published step-by-step path for approaching it.
Why Pilots Care
Allows a more direct and efficient descent to the runway in instrument conditions, reducing workload and fuel use compared to circling or procedure-turn approaches.
Intuition Check
Do not read straight-in as meaning the airplane flies directly from wherever it is to the runway. Here, straight-in means the final part of the published procedure is aligned with the landing runway well enough to support a straight-ahead landing.
Example Sentence 1
Because they were arriving from the south and already aligned with the final approach course, ATC cleared them for the straight-in approach procedure to Runway 18.
Example Sentence 2
On the approach chart the profile view showed the straight-in approach procedure descending directly from the final approach fix to the runway threshold.