How to Read an IFR Approach Chart

An IFR approach chart, often called an approach plate, organizes the information needed to fly a specific instrument approach. It shows the route, altitudes, frequencies, missed approach, minimums, runway environment, and important notes. Use current FAA chart data and NOTAMs; old screenshots or saved PDFs can be unsafe for actual flying.

The chart looks dense because it has to carry a lot of information. Read it by section, not all at once. For a cockpit-ready flow, pair this with how to brief an instrument approach.

Confirm the Chart

First, confirm the airport, runway, and approach name. Then verify the chart is current.

This sounds basic, but wrong-chart errors happen. Airports may have multiple approaches to the same runway, parallel runways, or similar procedure names.

Briefing Strip

The briefing strip gives the high-value items:

• Approach course.
• Required navaid or navigation source.
• Frequencies.
• Airport and touchdown zone elevation.
• Required equipment.
• Notes and limitations.
• Missed approach text.
• Approach lighting information.

Read the notes carefully. They may change visibility requirements, require DME or RNAV, identify non-standard alternate minimums, or call out cold-temperature procedures. If the approach type itself is new, review RNAV approaches, VOR approaches, or ILS approaches before trying to brief every chart the same way.

Plan View

The plan view is the overhead map of the approach. It shows fixes, courses, navaids, feeder routes, procedure turns, holds-in-lieu, terrain, obstacles, and the missed approach path.

Use it to answer:

• Where do I join?
• What course do I fly?
• What fixes matter?
• What altitudes or speeds apply?
• Where does the missed approach go?

If a fix has an altitude restriction, understand whether it is at-or-above, at-or-below, or mandatory. Do not assume every number means the same thing.

Minimum Safe Altitude

Many charts show a minimum safe altitude circle. MSA provides emergency obstacle clearance within a defined distance of the reference point, usually divided by sectors.

MSA is not a normal descent planning altitude. It is a safety reference if you are uncertain of position or need obstacle clearance in an abnormal situation.

Profile View

The profile view shows the approach from the side. This is where the descent path becomes easier to visualize.

Look for:

• Initial and intermediate fixes.
• Final approach fix.
• Step-down fixes.
• Glidepath intercept altitude.
• Minimum descent altitude or decision altitude.
• Missed approach point.
• Descent timing or distance information when provided.

Precision approaches and non-precision approaches use different descent concepts. On a precision approach, you descend on vertical guidance to a decision altitude. On many non-precision approaches, you descend to an MDA and remain there until reaching the missed approach point or the required visual references.

Minimums Section

The minimums table tells you how low you may descend and what visibility is required. Minimums depend on aircraft category, approach type, equipment, lighting status, and notes. For the DA/MDA distinction, use MDA vs. DA.

Know your aircraft category. A small training airplane is often Category A, but do not guess. Category is based on approach speed.

If lighting or equipment is out, minimums may increase. Check NOTAMs and the chart notes.

Missed Approach

Brief the missed approach before starting down final. Know the first altitude, first turn, heading or course, fix, and hold.

If ATC gives different missed instructions, follow the clearance. If not, fly the published missed approach. Do not wait until reaching minimums to start reading it. Radio workload matters here, so review IFR approach radio calls as part of your approach practice.

Airport Sketch

FAA approach charts include an airport sketch. Use it for runway layout, runway length, lighting, and situational awareness. It is not a substitute for a full airport diagram when taxi complexity matters.

Final Takeaway

Read IFR approach charts in a flow: confirm chart, briefing strip, plan view, profile view, minimums, missed approach, runway environment.

With practice, the chart stops looking like clutter and becomes what it is meant to be: a compact procedure checklist for getting from the enroute system to a safe landing or a safe missed approach.

Official References

• FAA Instrument Procedures Handbook
• FAA AIM 5-5 missed approach
• FAA AIP ENR 1.5
• 14 CFR 91.175
• FAA Aeronautical Information Manual