Look at the left header of an approach plate to identify the city and state. Directly beneath the location information you will find the instrument approach information. View multiple approach plates and study them to help you understand the information.
Identify approach procedures for the specific airport. For example, if it says "NDB" it means directional (radio) beacon which is a radio transmitter at a known location. After NDB is a three-letter identifier with the frequency to be used.
Locate the magnetic course to the runway for this instrument approach. For example, it will look like "APP CRS 085-degrees." The degrees will be different for each airport location.
Determine the available length of the runway for landing at the airport. For example, if it says "Rwy ldg 10000," you have 10,000 feet of runway on which to land.
Calculate the touchdown zone elevation of the runway. For example, a reading of "TDZE 794" indicates the runway is the above Mean Sea Level (MSL), the portion of the runway where an aircraft's landing gear normally first contacts the runway when landing. This runway's elevation at the touchdown zone is 794 feet. This number varies depending on the location of the airport. It may be slightly different or the same as the Apt Elev — the elevation of the airport at a central location.
Find the specifics of the approach for the airport in the right header to determine the type of approach, which runway you should use and the name of the airport. If you see a white "T" inside a black triangle in the second row on the left side, note that something is nonstandard about the airport that requires pilot attention.
Continue reading the second row. The center section identifies the Approach Lighting System for a specific runway. For example, "MALSR" means Medium intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway alignment indicator lights. Missed approach procedures are on the right side of the same row.
Look at the third row to determine what communication frequencies to use for weather, approach control, tower, ground control and clearance delivery. Beneath that row is the largest section of the approach plate. It gives you the plan view of the approach. It includes the Minimum Safe Altitude within a 25 nm radius and the overhead view of the approach in the center.
