What is the Initial Approach Fix (IAF) defined as?

• A. Fix at commencement of instrument approach
• B. Fix at end of instrument approach
• C. A point on the runway
• D. A fix used only for visual approaches

Answer: (A)

The Initial Approach Fix is the point where the instrument approach begins. It marks the start of the initial approach segment, from which you navigate the published procedure toward the intermediate and then final segments. This fix is often a named intersection or a navigation aid that lies on a feeder route, and it sets where you start applying instrument guidance to enter the approach flow. It isn’t a point on the runway, it isn’t the end of the approach, and instrument approaches aren’t limited to visual approaches—visual approaches rely on sight, while the instrument approach uses designated fixes like the IAF to begin the procedure.