Missed approach point

The missed approach point ( engl. missed approach point, MAPt or MAP ) is the point ( place ) during a landing approach under instrument flight rules, in which the pilot must take the prescribed missed approach procedure ( go-around ) if the runway is not in sight or he decides that the landing approach can not be continued to (unconsciously ) to fall below the Obstacle clearance Altitude not (OCA ). A missed approach procedure can also be carried out even before reaching the missed approach point.

Missed approach point for approaches with vertical guidance

For precision approach (PA ) and other approaches with vertical guidance ( APV, see approach procedure ) of the missed approach point is defined as the intersection of the electronic glide path with the decision height ( DH or DA). Since the latter is calculated from the OCA and aircraft- specific properties, it is not general and can, therefore, will not be published in the approach chart.

Missed approach point for non- precision approaches

For non- precision approach, the missed approach point by a navigation device, set a fix or a fixed distance from the final approach fix (FAF ) and published in the approach chart. If at reaching a minimum (MDH and MDA ) the runway is not in sight, the pilot may initially fly at this altitude on. Only when it reaches the missed approach point, he must - if the airfield is still not in sight - initiate the missed approach procedure.

Special case USA: Visual descent point

The common only in the USA Visual descent point (VDP, dtsch uncommon: view - Sink - point) 's been integrated by its function in the missed approach procedure. There is a point in the minimum descent ( minimum descent altitude MDA) in the descent profile of a non-precision approach. From the VDP, the aircraft can reach the runway threshold with a 3 ° descent ( Standardgleitpfad ).

The concept of VDP was developed by the FAA to allow pilots before reaching the MAPt a decision on the initiation of the missed approach procedure. If the runway from the VDP from is not visible, it can no longer be achieved with a normal descent (3 ° glide slope ). In other words: If the runway from the VDP is visible, then the pilot can perform the standard descent to the runway.

The VDP is further away from the runway threshold than the MAPt.

The FAA has the VDP defined as follows: A defined point on the final approach course of a direct (straight -in) non-precision approach, from which can be continued by the MDA with a normal descent of the approach to the runway touchdown point. The prerequisite is that the runway threshold or the approach lights, or other clearly approach end of the runway markings are clearly visible belonging to the pilot.

Critique of the concept of VDP

The VDP does not appear in the terminology of ICAO and is also not defined in the PANS- OPS, but is a self- creation of the FAA without observance of relevant ICAO provisions.

Since there is at a non -precision approach - no DA or DH as an ILS approach ( precision approach ), but only the MDA, it is up to each pilot left himself when he initiates the further descent (below the MDA).