AboutColin Woehrle Expertise Answer questions regarding FARs, VFR and IFR flight operations, the national
airspace system (NAS), communications with ATC, physiology, etc. I answer sincere questions
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Experience Pilot for a leading west-coast regional airline. Ratings and certificates include: Flight Instructor (CFI, CFII), Commercial Pilot, Instrument, Single Engine Land/Multi-engine Land Airplane
I am trying to find out something on an approach plate. On some of the Jeppessen Approach plates there is an initial approach fix and a final approach fix and some there are not. I know Houston Intercontinental is one of them.
I wonder why some have an initial approach fix and some do not?
Thanks,
Korey Mote
Answer Hi Korey,
Thanks for the great question. All approaches will have an IAF, and a lot of the time a separate FAF. However some IAF's are co-located with the FAF and therefore you will only see "IAF" on the planview of the approach plate and you will see the maltese cross symbol on the profile portion which signifies the FAF. Precision approaches should always have a FAF, but often nonprecision approach plates show no FAF, such as on an approach which incorporates an on-ariport VOR or NDB. So point like this is usually where the procedure turn intersects the final approach course inbound. This would be refered to as the "final approach point" instead of a FAF and the final approach segment ends either at the designated missed approach point or when you land.
Hope this clears things up. If it doesn't, and you have more specific details (perhaps the name of the approach in question), please feel free to ask another question. Thanks!
