FAR Part § 97.3: Symbols and terms used in procedures -- FAA FARS, 14 CFR

As used in the standard terminal instrument procedures prescribed in this part --

(a) A means alternate airport weather minimum.

(b) Aircraft approach category means a grouping of aircraft based on a speed of V_REF, if specified, or if V_REF is not specified, 1.3 V_S0 at the maximum certificated landing weight. V_REF, V_S0, and the maximum certificated landing weight are those values as established for the aircraft by the certification authority of the country of registry. The categories are as follows:

(1) Category A: Speed less than 91 knots.

(2) Category B: Speed 91 knots or more but less than 121 knots.

(3) Category C: Speed 121 knots or more but less than 141 knots.

(4) Category D: Speed 141 knots or more but less than 166 knots.

(5) Category E: Speed 166 knots or more.

(c) Approach procedure segments for which altitudes (all altitudes prescribed are minimum altitudes unless otherwise specified) or courses, or both, are prescribed in procedures, are as follows:

(1) Initial approach is the segment between the intial approach fix and the intermediate fix or the point where the aircraft is established on the intermediate course or final approach course.

(2) Initial approach altitude means the altitude (or altitudes, in High Altitude Procedures) prescribed for the initial approach segment of an instrument approach.

(3) Intermediate approach is the segment between the intermediate fix or point and the final approach fix.

(4) Final approach is the segment between the final approach fix or point and the runway, airport, or missed-approach point.

(5) Missed approach is the segment between the missed-approach point, or point of arrival at decision height, and the missed-approach fix at the prescribed altitude.

(d) C means circling landing minimum, a statement of ceiling and visibility values, or minimum descent altitude and visibility, required for the circle-to-land maneuver.

(d-1) Copter procedures means helicopter procedures, with applicable minimums as prescribed in §97.35 of this part. Helicopters may also use other procedures prescribed in Subpart C of this part and may use the Category A minimum descent altitude (MDA) or decision height (DH). The required visibility minimum may be reduced to one-half the published visibility minimum for Category A aircraft, but in no case may it be reduced to less than one-quarter mile or 1,200 feet RVR.

(e) Ceiling minimum means the minimum ceiling, expressed in feet above the surface of the airport, required for takeoff or required for designating an airport as an alternate airport.

(f) D means day.

(g) FAF means final approach fix.

(h) HAA means height above airport.

(h-1) HAL means height above a designated helicopter landing area used for helicopter instrument approach procedures.

(i) HAT means height above touchdown.

(j) MAP means missed approach point.

(k) More than 65 knots means an aircraft that has a stalling speed of more than 65 knots (as established in an approved flight manual) at maximum certificated landing weight with full flaps, landing gear extended, and power off.

(l) MSA means minimum safe altitude, an emergency altitude expressed in feet above mean sea level, which provides 1,000 feet clearance over all obstructions in that sector within 25 miles of the facility on which the procedure is based (LOM in ILS procedures).

(m) N means night.

(n) NA means not authorized.

(o) NOPT means no procedure turn required (altitude prescribed applies only if procedure turn is not executed).

(o-1) Point in space approach means a helicopter instrument approach procedure to a missed approach point that is more than 2,600 feet from an associated helicopter landing area.

(p) Procedure turn means the maneuver prescribed when it is necessary to reverse direction to establish the aircraft on an intermediate or final approach course. The outbound course, direction of turn, distance within which the turn must be completed, and minimum altitude are specified in the procedure. However, the point at which the turn may be commenced, and the type and rate of turn, is left to the discretion of the pilot.

(q) RA means radio altimeter setting height.

(r) RVV means runway visibility value.

(s) S means straight-in landing minimum, a statement of ceiling and visibility, minimum descent altitude and visibility, or decision height and visibility, required for a straight-in landing on a specified runway. The number appearing with the S indicates the runway to which the minimum applies. If a straight-in minimum is not prescribed in the procedure, the circling minimum specified applies to a straight-in landing.

(t) Shuttle means a shuttle, or race-track-type, pattern with 2-minute legs prescribed in lieu of a procedure turn.

(u) 65 knots or less means an aircraft that has a stalling speed of 65 knots or less (as established in an approved flight manual) at maximum certificated landing weight with full flaps, landing gear extended, and power off.

(v) T means takeoff minimum.

(w) TDZ means touchdown zone.

(x) Visibility minimum means the minimum visibility specified for approach, or landing, or takeoff, expressed in statute miles, or in feet where RVR is reported. (Secs. 307(c), 313(a), 601, Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended (49 U.S.C. 1348(c), 1354(a), 1421); sec. 6(c), Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 1655(c)))

[Doc. No. 8130, 32 FR 13911, Oct. 6, 1967, as amended by Amdt. 97-803, 37 FR 6287, Mar. 28, 1972; Amdt. 97-1133, 44 FR 15659, Mar. 15, 1979; Amdt. 97-1333, 67 FR 70828, Nov. 26, 2002]

FAA Federal Aviation Regulations (FARS, 14 CFR)

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