Instrument Flight Procedures

Instrument flight procedures (IFP) are used by aircraft flying in accordance with instrument flight rules and are designed to facilitate safe and efficient aircraft operations.  These procedures are an essential component of the aviation system. Every day, thousands of aircraft around the world are flying instrument departure, arrival or approach procedures to airports in every country.

Resources

IFP Guidance Material

• PANS OPS Vol II
• Quality Assurance Manual for Flight Procedure Design (Doc 9906)
  • Volume 1
  • Volume 2
  • Volume 3
  • Volume 5
• RNP AR Manual (Doc 9905)
• Manual on the Development of a Regulatory Framework for Instrument Flight Procedure Design Service (Doc 10068)
• PBN Manual (Doc 9613)

Topics 

Moving from Magnetic to a True North reference system in aviation:

At the Twelfth and Thirteenth Air Navigation Conferences, in 2012 and 2018 respectively, Canada presented working papers with a proposal to move from a magnetic to a True North reference for heading and track in air operations, to enhance safety and reduce the considerable cost of maintaining magnetic variation (MAGVAR) tables. The Conferences recommended that further study on the technical, operational, and economic feasibility of changing to a "True North" reference system should be conducted.  

Canada, in cooperation with the International Association of Institutes of Navigation (IAIN), has been investigating the feasibility of this topic and presented an information paper at the High-Level Conference on Covid-19 (HLCC) in 2021 to provide an update to States. Canada is currently developing a Concept of Operations (ConOps).

If "True North" reference is implemented among States it would mean the discontinuation of the traditional practice of converting aeronautical data from its original format in TRUE reference into a magnetic reference. It would simplify charting and aircraft operations and may result in considerable cost savings for air operators, air navigation service providers, airports, avionics original equipment manufacturers, and flight procedures designers going forward.