What You Need to Know to Create an IFR Approach

Establishing one at your airport just takes some persistence.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, July 24, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

When you break out of the clouds, it’s important to always follow the airport’s published approach for a safe landing. [Credit: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Any individual or entity with an "aeronautical interest," from pilots to airport management, can submit a request to the FAA for a new instrument approach at an airport.
The process for acquiring an instrument approach is comprehensive, requiring a detailed application that covers airport infrastructure, operational needs, environmental considerations, and justification, followed by FAA assessment and stakeholder coordination.
Developing and publishing an instrument approach is a lengthy undertaking, typically taking 12 months to over two years, which includes potential physical infrastructure construction (for RNAV) and mandatory FAA test flights for safety and accuracy validation.

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It was November in Seattle. The ceiling had been going up and down all morning. A pilot was heard on the unicom asking for a runway advisory—he was still 6 miles out.

Although he was instrument rated, and the airplane was IFR equipped and legal for instrument flight, he chose to divert to a nearby airport and have his wife pick him up. The reason? The airport lacked a published instrument approach. He was not the first pilot to have this experience.