A controller must issue clearance once an aircraft is established on the segment of an approach. What is this segment called?

The area in which a controller issues clearance for an aircraft established on an approach is known as the Instrument Approach Segment. This segment encompasses the specific phases of the instrument approach, including initial, intermediate, and final approaches, guiding the aircraft toward the runway while ensuring safe separation from other air traffic.

When a plane is established on this segment, the controller has verified that the aircraft has followed the appropriate procedures and is in a safe position to continue the approach. This is critical for maintaining orderly traffic flows and ensuring that all aircraft are managed effectively as they descend through controlled airspace.

Understanding this segment is vital for controllers, as it encompasses the critical stages of an approach, where close coordination with the pilot is necessary for a safe landing. Other terms like Final Approach specifically refer to the last part of the landing path, while a Standard Arrival Route is focused on routes used for arriving traffic and does not encompass the approach segment as a whole. The Missed Approach Point, on the other hand, pertains to the point at which a pilot must decide to execute a missed approach if the runway is not in sight or if landing cannot be accomplished safely.