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 charts transitioned from feedback-driven design to the current "Volpe format" through FAA-commissioned human factors studies aimed at improving organization, readability, and ambiguity for pilot safety.
Chart designers navigate inherent trade-offs between information density, legibility, and size constraints while serving diverse pilot needs, leading to the careful use of symbols, fonts, and layout to minimize clutter and speed critical information retrieval.
Key design innovations in modern charts, such as the "Briefing Strip" and intuitive icons for missed approaches, were developed through research to provide quick and clear access to essential information, thereby enhancing flight safety and efficiency.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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!”