What is the final approach in an instrument approach procedure?

• A. The segment after landing clearance
• B. The segment for establishing cruise altitude
• C. The segment where alignment and descent for landing are accomplished
• D. The segment before the intermediate approach

Answer: (C)

The final approach is the last segment of an instrument approach where you are aligned with the runway and complete the descent toward landing. It begins once you’re established on the final approach course and continues down to the point where you can land (or execute a miss if the requirements aren’t met). On precision approaches, you follow the glide slope to the runway; on non-precision approaches, you follow the published altitudes and fixes to reach the minimums. This phase comes after the initial and intermediate segments that set you up on the correct path, and it ends at the landing decision point or the missed-approach point depending on the approach.