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Instrument Approach Procedure Charts

NOTICE: This chart was prepared for research purposes only and is not intended for actual navigation.

Briefing Strip

1. The information required for quick reference is in the top row. The concept of formatting this safety critical information (particularly the first three items) grew out of subject matter expert interviews (Osborne and Huntley, 1993). The first box contains the type, identifier, and frequency of the navaid that serves this approach. The final approach course is given in the second box. The third box contains the final approach fix (FAF) name and the altitude at the FAF. The fourth box shows the touchdown zone elevation (TDZE). If the charted procedure were a non-precision approach to either of two runways, both TDZEs would be shown, and both would be bolded. The airport elevation is given in the fifth box. To the right of this row, the four-letter ICAO airport identifier is shown in italics.

2. The second row contains all equipment and procedural notes (navigation notes remain in the profile section), an approach lighting system sketch, and missed approach instructions. If any visual glideslope indicators are present, they are also depicted in the approach lighting system sketch. If a parallel runway has the same lighting system, an italicized note is given in the notes box. Locating all equipment and procedural notes in one location helps pilots to find the notes they are looking for, as well as notice the notes that might previously have been unnoticed in a densely packed plan view. These notes have been moved up to the top of the chart to make them easier to read in poor lighting. The approach lighting sketch was initially recommended by a Part 121 flight crew during a jumpseat interview (Osborne and Huntley, 1993). This sketch received strong support during field testing (Blomberg, Bishop, and Hamilton, in press).

3. The results of research conducted by Multer, Warner, DeSario, and Huntley (1991) on communication frequency layout are implemented in the third row of the briefing strip. The ATIS and communication frequencies are listed in order of their use and the numbers are always shown under the labels. In order to save space, they are not as large as the numbers listed above. They are made available here for verification, early radio set-up, or in case of blockage of an active communication channel. Both general aviation and air carrier pilots recommended that since the plan view is oriented North-Up, any West and East frequencies should be placed on the left and right, respectively (Osborne and Huntley, 1993).

Plan View

4. The enroute facilities and feeder facilities rings have been removed (Osborne and Huntley, 1993).

5. The sectors of the circle are defined by radials rather than bearings, since pilots usually think in terms of radials rather than bearings to the station (Osborne and Huntley, 1993).

6. The text identification for the reference navigational aid (navaid) is given in the center of the circle (Osborne and Huntley, 1993).

7. The approach course number has been boxed to enhance detectability and readability (Multer, Warner, DiSario, and Huntley, 1991).

8. The name of the missed approach holding fix has been bolded (Mangold, Eldredge, and Lauber, 1992).

Profile View

9. In the profile view, the "up and out" portion of the missed approach instructions is depicted in icons rather than text. These icons tell the pilot all that is required to get the plane up and out-- and this critical information is more easily located than if it were embedded in text. The first altitude and navaid frequency are emphasized by bolding. If there was a heading in the first box, it too would be bolded. Osborne and Huntley (1992) demonstrated that encoding the missed approach instructions in icons allows pilots to comprehend the instructions faster than text instructions.

10. The approach course number has been boxed here as well (Multer, Warner, DiSario, and Huntley, 1991).

Minimums

11. Bold type has been used to make the MDAs easier to find and read (Mangold, Eldredge, and Lauber, 1992).