AIM
4/3/14
5−4−27
Arrival Procedures
1.
Via published transitions, or
2.
On a heading or course direct to the IAF when
a hold-in-lieu of procedure turn is published, and the
pilot will execute the procedure, or
3.
On a heading or course direct to the IAF/IF, at
intercept angles no greater than 90 degrees and the
distance to the waypoint beginning the RF leg is 6NM
or greater, or
4.
With radar monitoring, on a heading or course
direct to any waypoint 3 miles or more from the way-
point that begins the RF leg, at an intercept angle not
greater than 30 degrees. (See FIG 5−4−14.)
EXAMPLE
−
1. Controllers will not clear aircraft direct to THIRD be-
cause that waypoint begins the RF leg, and aircraft cannot
be vectored or cleared to TURNN or vectored to intercept
the approach segment at any point between THIRD and
FORTH because this is the RF leg.
2. Controllers can clear Aircraft 1 direct to SCOND be-
cause the distance to THIRD, where the RF leg begins is
3NM or greater and the intercept angle will be 30 degrees
or less and is radar monitored. Controllers can clear
Aircraft 2 direct to FIRST because the intercept angle is
90 degrees or less, and the distance from FIRST to THIRD
is 6NM or greater.
5
−
4
−
7. Instrument Approach Procedures
a.
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
SO
at the maximum
certified landing weight. V
REF
,
V
SO
,
and the
maximum certified landing weight are those values as
established for the aircraft by the certification
authority of the country of registry. A pilot must use
the minima corresponding to the category determined
during certification or higher. Helicopters may use
Category A minima. If it is necessary to operate at a
speed in excess of the upper limit of the speed range
for an aircraft’s category, the minimums for the
higher category must be used. For example, an
airplane which fits into Category B, but is circling to
land at a speed of 145 knots, must use the approach
Category D minimums. As an additional example, a
Category A airplane (or helicopter) which is
operating at 130 knots on a straight−in approach must
use the approach Category C minimums. See the
following category limits:
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.
NOTE
−
V
REF
in the above definition refers to the speed used in
establishing the approved landing distance under the
airworthiness regulations constituting the type
certification basis of the airplane, regardless of whether
that speed for a particular airplane is 1.3
V
SO,
1.23
V
SR,
or
some higher speed required for airplane controllability.
This speed, at the maximum certificated landing weight,
determines the lowest applicable approach category for
all approaches regardless of actual landing weight.
b.
When operating on an unpublished route or
while being radar vectored, the pilot, when an
approach clearance is received, must, in addition to
complying with the minimum altitudes for IFR
operations (14 CFR Section 91.177), maintain the
last assigned altitude unless a different altitude is
assigned by ATC, or until the aircraft is established on
a segment of a published route or IAP. After the
aircraft is so established, published altitudes apply to
descent within each succeeding route or approach
segment unless a different altitude is assigned by
ATC. Notwithstanding this pilot responsibility, for
aircraft operating on unpublished routes or while
being radar vectored, ATC will, except when
conducting a radar approach, issue an IFR approach
clearance only after the aircraft is established on a
segment of a published route or IAP, or assign an
altitude to maintain until the aircraft is established on
a segment of a published route or instrument
approach procedure. For this purpose, the procedure
turn of a published IAP must not be considered a
segment of that IAP until the aircraft reaches the
initial fix or navigation facility upon which the
procedure turn is predicated.
EXAMPLE
−
Cross Redding VOR at or above five thousand, cleared
VOR runway three four approach.
or
Five miles from outer marker, turn right heading three three
zero, maintain two thousand until established on the
localizer, cleared ILS runway three six approach.