Definition
An instrument approach that provides both lateral (course) and vertical (glidepath) electronic guidance to a runway, flown on a final approach course aligned within 30 degrees of the runway centerline, allowing the pilot to descend and land without circling. ILS, PAR, and GLS approaches are typical examples.
Plain English
An approach that lines you up directly with the runway and gives you electronic guidance for both your course and your descent path, so you can fly straight in and land.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flight planning, alternate airport rules, and approach minimums, especially when deciding whether an airport has an approach that qualifies for certain planning requirements.
Derivation
"Straight-in" describes the geometry: you fly directly toward the runway rather than circling to land. "Precision" comes from Latin "praecisio" (a cutting off, exactness) and here means the approach gives exact guidance in both dimensions -- left/right and up/down -- not just lateral.
Why Pilots Care
Determines whether lower alternate minimums can be used, directly affecting flight planning and the ability to safely reach a usable airport if the destination becomes unavailable.
Intuition Check
Do not read “straight-in” as a promise that no pilot judgment or maneuvering will be needed; it means the published procedure is aligned for landing on a named runway instead of being a circling-only procedure. Do not read “precision” as just “very accurate”; here it specifically means the approach provides approved sideways and downward guidance.
Example Sentence 1
Because the destination forecast was marginal, the crew chose an alternate that had a straight-in precision approach available, giving them the lowest possible weather minimums.
Example Sentence 2
With a straight-in precision approach available, the commercial operator could file the airport as an alternate using the lower ceiling and visibility values listed in the regulations.