No-arrival sectors

What is it with arbitrary rules and aviation? Like how some security Ph.D. determined that a quart bag of three-ounce containers dont constitute a security threat but a single quart of Pepsi does. Maybe they think terrorists arent smart enough to pool their resources. Or maybe the TSA brass just has something against soft drinks.

Editorial Staff

Friday, August 01, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Modern instrument approach charts often feature "Procedure Not Approved" (NA) sectors for arrivals, which are mandated by TERPS (Terminal Instrument Procedures) rules to prohibit arrivals from specific airway sectors that would require an un-charted course reversal.
These seemingly arbitrary restrictions are a holdover from older IFR system designs and regulatory guidelines, focusing on procedure formalization rather than immediate safety concerns regarding the turn itself.
In practice, pilots can often bypass these prohibitions through air traffic control vectors or rerouting, and their absence in older, un-updated approaches suggests they are often regulatory formalities rather than critical safety requirements.

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Another tale from the land of aviation compromise, where trying to dot every “i” wipes some of the “t”s right off the page. Ah, progress.

What is it with arbitrary rules and aviation? Like how some security Ph.D. determined that a quart bag of three-ounce containers don’t constitute a security threat but a single quart of Pepsi does. Maybe they think terrorists aren’t smart enough to pool their resources. Or maybe the TSA brass just has something against soft drinks.