Final approach (aviation)
- Final approach (aviation)
A final approach is the last leg in an aircraft's approach to landing. In aviation radio terminology, it is often abbreviated to "on final".In a standard airport landing pattern, aircraft turn from base leg to final within one to two miles of the airport. For instrument approaches, as well as approaches into a controlled airfield under VFR, often a "straight-in" final approach is used, where all the other legs are dispensed with.
Approach slope
An approach slope is the path that an airplane follows on its final approach to land on a runway. It takes its name from the fact that this path is ideally a gentle downward slope. A commonly used approach slope is 3° from the horizontal. However certain airports have steeper approach paths based on the topography and buildings. London UK City airport has a 5.5° approach, and only aircraft that can maintain such an approach are permitted to use the airport
The term glide slope is often applied to mean approach slope. Although this is technically incorrect, it is now a standard part of aviation talk. The technical incorrectness arises because an aircraft aiming for a perfectly failsafe landing or one that is landing without engine power will use its glide slope as its approach slope. However, in non-emergencies, approach slopes for non-gliders are usually shallower than the glide slope as this makes for a softer landing.
Final approach fix
The final approach fix is the point in space where the final approach begins in an instrument approach. The final approach fix is indicated when the aircraft crosses the outer marker of the airport's marker beacon. The location of the marker beacon varies from airport to airport, usually between 4 to 7 miles from the runway.
It is at this point in its forward flight that a landing aircraft should be established on the airport's Instrument Landing System (ILS) glideslope (the prescribed height above the terrain as the aircraft descends towards the runway) and localizer (which lines the aircraft up with the direction of the runway).
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Final approach — can refer to: * Final approach (aviation), a term describing the landing approach of an aircraft * Final Approach (film) , a 1991 film * Final Approach , an anime series. * Final Approach (2007 film) , a 2007 TV film staring Dean Cain and Anthony … Wikipedia
aviation — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Science of flight Nouns 1. (science of flight) aviation, flight, flying; navigation, aerial navigation; aeronautics, aerodynamics, aerodonetics, aerostatics, avionics, rocketry; aerial navigation,… … English dictionary for students
Aviation in World War I — One of the many innovations of World War I, aircraft were first used for reconnaissance purposes and later as fighters and bombers. Consequently, this was the first war which involved a struggle for control of the air, which turned it into… … Wikipedia
Approach and Landing Tests — Infobox Space mission mission name = Approach and Landing Tests insignia = ALT mission patch.png shuttle = Enterprise crew members = 2 x 2 launch pad = N/A launch = N/A landing = N/A duration = N/A orbits = Not orbital flights altitude = N/A… … Wikipedia
Instrument approach — Terminal procedures for an ILS approach in the United States. (The disclaimers shown in red in the illustration do not appear on the original approach plate.) For aircraft operating under instrument flight rules (IFR), an instrument approach or… … Wikipedia
Sensory illusions in aviation — Because human senses are adapted for use on the ground, navigating by sensory input alone during flight can be dangerous: sensory input does not always accurately reflect the movement of the aircraft, causing sensory illusions. These illusions… … Wikipedia
Lasers and aviation safety — Under certain conditions, laser light or other bright lights (spotlights, searchlights) directed at aircraft can be a hazard. The most likely scenario is when a bright visible laser light causes distraction or temporary flash blindness to a pilot … Wikipedia
Missed approach point — (MAPt or MAP) is the point prescribed in each instrument approach at which a missed approach procedure shall be executed if the required visual reference does not exist. It defines the point for precision and non precision approaches when the… … Wikipedia
1949 in aviation — yearbox in?=in aviation cp=19th Century c=20th century cf=21st century yp1=1946 yp2=1947 yp3=1948 year=1949 ya1=1950 ya2=1951 ya3=1952 dp3=1910s dp2=1920s dp1=1930s d=1940s dn1=1950s dn2=1960s dn3=1970sThis is a list of aviation related events… … Wikipedia
Surveillance radar approach — A Surveillance Radar Approach (SRA or ASR) is an aviation term for a type of instrument approach provided with active assistance from Air Traffic Control during the final approach phase. It requires no special equipment in addition to a standard… … Wikipedia
