Definition
The published descent angle, expressed in degrees below the horizontal, that defines the vertical path of an instrument approach final segment. It is referenced from the runway threshold (or a defined point near it) and is flown by aircraft equipped with vertical guidance, such as LPV, LNAV/VNAV, or RNP approaches. A typical VPA is 3.00°.
Plain English
The angle of the descent path the airplane follows down to the runway on an instrument approach. It tells you how steep the descent is, measured in degrees.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument approach charts and procedure data, especially when briefing the descent from the final part of an approach toward the runway.
Why Pilots Care
It determines the exact descent rate needed to remain on the vertical path and complete a stabilized approach.
Analogy
Think of VPA like the slope of a ramp. A shallow ramp descends slowly, while a steeper ramp descends more quickly over the same forward distance.
Grounding Statement
If the chart shows a 3.00-degree VPA, the intended path is a steady 3-degree descent toward the runway area.
Intuition Check
VPA is not the airplane’s pitch attitude and it is not whatever descent angle the pilot happens to fly. It is the planned vertical angle published for the procedure.
Example Sentence 1
The approach chart showed a VPA of 3.00°, so we briefed a normal descent rate of about 700 feet per minute at our final approach speed.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot adjusted the descent rate to maintain the required VPA.