Figure 5-4. Pilot Briefing Information NACO Chart Format.

Figure 5-5. Chart Identification.

APPROACH CHART NAMING CONVENTIONS

Individual NACO charts are identified on both the top and the bottom of the page by their procedure name (based on the NAVAIDs required for the final approach), runway served, and airport location. The identifier for the airport is also listed immediately after the airport name, as shown in Figure 5-5.

There are several types of approach procedures that may cause some confusion for flight crews unfamiliar with the naming conventions. Although specific information about each type of approach will be covered later in this chapter, here are a few procedure names that can cause confusion.

STRAIGHT-IN PROCEDURES

When two or more straight-in approaches with the same type of guidance exist for a runway, a letter suffix is added to the title of the approach so that it can be more easily identified. These approach charts start with the letter Z and continue in reverse alphabetical order. For example, consider the RNAV (GPS) Z RWY 13C and RNAV (RNP) Y RWY 13C approaches at Chicago Midway International Airport. [Figure 5-6] Although these two approaches can both be flown with GPS to the same runway they are significantly different, e.g., one is a “SPECIAL AIRCRAFT & AIRCREW AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED (SAAAR); one has circling minimums and the other does not; the minimums are different; and the missed approaches are not the same. The approach procedure labeled Z will have lower landing minimums than Y (some older charts may not reflect this). In this example, the LNAV MDA for the RNAV (GPS) Z RWY 13C has the lowest minimums of either approach due to the differences in the final approach ROC evaluation. This convention also eliminates any confusion with approach procedures labeled A and B, where only circling minimums are published. The designation of two area navigation (RNAV) procedures to the same runway can occur when it is desirable to accommodate panel mounted global positioning system (GPS) receivers and flight management systems (FMSs), both with and without VNAV. It is also important to note that only one of each type of approach for a runway, including ILS, VHF omnidirectional range (VOR), non-directional beacon (NDB), etc., can be coded into a database.

CIRCLING ONLY PROCEDURES

Approaches that do not have straight-in landing minimums are identified by the type of approach followed by a letter. Examples in Figure 5-7 show four procedure titles at the same airport that have only circling minimums.

As can be seen from the example, the first approach of this type created at the airport will be labeled with the letter A, and the lettering will continue in alphabetical

Figure 5-6. Multiple Approaches.

Figure 5-7. Procedures without Straight-in Landing Minimums.

order. Circling-only approaches are normally designed for one of the following reasons:

• The final approach course alignment with the runway centerline exceeds 30 degrees.
• The descent gradient is greater than 400 feet per NM from the FAF to the threshold crossing height (TCH). When this maximum gradient is

Figure 5-8.VOR/DME RNAV Approach Chart.

exceeded, the circling only approach procedure may be designed to meet the gradient criteria limits. This does not preclude a straight-in landing if a normal descent and landing can be made in accordance with the applicable CFRs.