Logging Approaches

The question of what constitutes flying a loggable instrument approach procedure (IAP) often comes up during both hangar-flying sessions and check rides. The commonly accepted definition has been something like the aircraft flies over an initial approach fix (IAF) and departs the final approach fix (FAF) inbound to the airport in actual or simulated IMC and breaks out somewhere before reaching the missed approach point (MAP), decision height (DH) or decision altitude (DA). Its not all that simple, of course, especially once simulators and view-limiting devices get involved. To help clarify the answers, the FAA recently published official guidance.

Key Takeaways:

• The FAA published official guidance (InFO 15012) clarifying the specific conditions under which pilots can log an instrument approach procedure (IAP), emphasizing operating solely by reference to instruments and flying each required segment to the minimums.
• The FAA introduced a new "Compliance Philosophy" (Order 8000.373), focusing on collaborative problem-solving, critical thinking, and using the most effective means to return to compliance and prevent recurrence of safety deviations, rather than just enforcement.
• A new FAA policy statement (PS-ACE-23-08) outlines acceptable methods for replacing less reliable vacuum-driven attitude instruments with more robust electronically-driven indicators, often considering it a minor alteration due to improved reliability.

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