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Sunday 20th July 2008
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Brainteasers Interactive Quiz #35:
Terminal Instrument Procedures (TERPS)

Instrument departure and arrival procedures in the U.S. are designed in accordance with FAA Order 8260.3B, titled "United States Standard for Terminal Procedures" and affectionately nicknamed "TERPS." Pilots who are familiar with the criteria used to design instrument procedures are less likely to make critical mistakes when executing them. Irv Siegel's latest interactive quiz puts your TERPS knowledge to the test.

by Irv Siegel

NOTE: The questions in this quiz are based on FAA Order 8260.3B, "United States Standard for Terminal Procedures," hereinafter referred to as the "TERPS Manual."

1. Who may submit a request for an instrument approach procedure (IAP) at a
a. the airport owner or his duly authorized representative
b. the chief of the FAA FSDO having jurisdiction over that airport
c. any person who holds an FAA pilot certificate
civil airport?


d. any aviation source
2. What form must be used when requesting a new instrument approach procedure
a. TERPS 8260.001
b. FAA SA.759
c. DOT 80402
d. No special form is required
for a civil airport?

3. Which of the following is not a possible name for an IAP?
a. VOR/DME
b. LOC/DME
c. ILS/DME
4. Other than for high-altitude penetrations, what are the optimum and
a. 100'/nm and 200'/nm
b. 125'/nm and 250'/nm
c. 250'/nm and 500'/nm
d. 500'/nm and 1000'/nm
maximum descent gradients for a feeder route (in feet per nautical mile)?

5. What is the total width of the initial approach segment that is within 50 nm of
a. 6 nm
b. 8 nm
c. 10 nm
d. 12 nm
the facility?

6. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences: The obstacle clearance in
a. 2000, 1000
b. 1500, 750
c. 1000, 500
edge, tapering uniformly to zero feet at the outer edge.


secondary area ____ feet of obstacle clearance shall be provided at the inner
the initial approach primary area shall be a minimum of ____ feet. In the
7. What is the maximum difference between the course to be flown in the
a. 0
b. 10 degrees
c. 20 degrees
d. 30 degrees
e. 45 degrees
intermediate approach segment and the final approach course?

8. What are the optimum and maximum descent gradients for the intermediate
a. 150'/nm and 318 '/nm
approach segment (in feet per nautical mile)? NOTE: The maximum may be exceeded
b. 200'/nm and 424'/nm
c. 300'/nm and 636'/nm
case, a higher descent gradient equal to the commissioned GS angle (provided it
does not exceed 3°) is permissible. Higher gradients resulting from arithmetic
for a localizer approach published in conjunction with an ILS procedure. In this
rounding are also permissible.

9. What are the minimum and maximum distances for a DME arc that serves as an
a. 5 nm and 25 nm
b. 7 nm and 30 nm
c. 9 nm and 35 nm
intermediate approach segment?

10. What are the optimum and maximum non-precision final segment descent
a. 300'/nm and 380'/nm
b. 318'/nm and 400'/nm
c. 400'/nm and 500'/nm
gradients?

11. Which of the following IAPs will NOT have a published VDP?
a. circling approaches
altimeter settings


altitude at a step-down fix


b. an approach with an MDA based on part-time or full-time remote
c. an approach where the visual descent angle would pass below a required
d. an approach where the VDP would be between the MAP and the runway
e. any of the above.
12. What is the minimum angle of the courses or radials for an intersection
a. 30 degrees
b. 45 degrees
c. 60 degrees
holding fix if the facilities are less than 30 miles apart?