instrument approach


instrument approach

A landing approach made without visual reference to the ground by the use of aircraft instruments and ground-based electronic or communications systems or devices. An aircraft making such an approach should be flying in accordance with an IFR (instrument flight rules) flight plan. An approach carried out with the help of systems such as ILS (instrument landing system), MLS (microwave landing system), GCA (ground-controlled approach), VOR (very high frequency omnidirectional radio-range), TACAN (tactical air navigation), LOC (localizer), and GPS (global positioning system) would be categorized as an instrument approach. See ground-control approach.