Voil Volpe

If there was ever a high-performance document, the instrument approach procedure chart (plate) is it. Flying an approach asks a lot of us. Information needed for an IAP, SID or STAR must be retrievable quickly and correctly off the chart while minimizing head-down time away from the instruments.Until the mid-1990s, approach charts evolved without scientific study, driven instead by user feedback and flight safety. Liability proved a mixed blessing. Litigation motivates accuracy, but also makes…

Editorial Staff

Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Instrument approach procedure charts transitioned from unscientific evolution to the human factors-based "Volpe format" in the mid-1990s, aimed at improving organization, readability, and reducing ambiguity.
Chart design faces challenges balancing information density, legibility, and the needs of diverse pilots and aircraft within fixed physical size constraints, leading to constant efforts to minimize clutter.
Key design improvements include strategic use of font sizes and types, the adoption of clear icons (like for missed approaches), and the Volpe Briefing Strip, which organizes critical approach information for quick retrieval.

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If there was ever a “high-performance document,” the instrument approach procedure chart (“plate”) is it. Flying an approach asks a lot of us. Information needed for an IAP, SID or STAR must be retrievable quickly and correctly off the chart while minimizing head-down time away from the instruments.
Until the mid-1990s, approach charts evolved without scientific study, driven instead by user feedback and flight safety. Liability proved a mixed blessing. Litigation motivates accuracy, but also makes it difficult to remove marginally useful information that adds chart clutter. You can imagine the argument in court: “It wasn’t on the chart!”