Which approach is considered a precision approach in the United States?

Which approach is considered a precision approach in the United States?

• A. The ILS
• B. VOR approach
• C. RNAV (GPS) approach
• D. LOC approach

Answer: (A)

Precision approaches provide both lateral and vertical guidance to the runway. The Instrument Landing System delivers this with a localizer for precise horizontal guidance and a glide slope for vertical guidance, allowing descent along a defined path to very low minimums. VOR approaches offer only lateral guidance, so they’re non-precision. Localizer-only approaches provide no vertical guidance either. RNAV (GPS) approaches can provide vertical guidance (LPV), but FAA terminology classifies LPV as an APV—approach with vertical guidance—not a true precision approach. So the ILS is the approach recognized as precision in the United States.

Precision approaches provide both lateral and vertical guidance to the runway. The Instrument Landing System delivers this with a localizer for precise horizontal guidance and a glide slope for vertical guidance, allowing descent along a defined path to very low minimums. VOR approaches offer only lateral guidance, so they’re non-precision. Localizer-only approaches provide no vertical guidance either. RNAV (GPS) approaches can provide vertical guidance (LPV), but FAA terminology classifies LPV as an APV—approach with vertical guidance—not a true precision approach. So the ILS is the approach recognized as precision in the United States.