Section 4. Instrument Approach Data

12-4-1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Terminal approach control facilities are responsible for the tabulation and reporting of instrument approach data for those nontower and VFR tower airports under their jurisdiction to which instrument approaches are conducted. Instrument approach data are used primarily to determine the need and the priority order of approach aids, such as ILS, MLS, and VOR. Therefore, it is not necessary to report instrument approaches made to purely military airports unless the FAA is responsible for providing the aids for that airport. One count shall be recorded for each approach meeting the criteria listed below:

a. An instrument approach is an approach made to an airport by an aircraft on an IFR flight plan when the visibility is less than 3 miles or the ceiling is at or below the minimum initial approach altitude.

b. Where no weather reporting service is available at nontower satellite airports, the following criteria in descending order shall be used to determine valid instrument approaches:

1. A pilot report.

2. If the flight has not canceled its IFR flight plan prior to reaching the initial approach fix.

3. The official weather as reported for any airport located within 30 miles of the airport to which the approach is made.

12-4-2. AIRCRAFT NOT INCLUDED IN INSTRUMENT APPROACH CATEGORY

Do not consider aircraft requesting clearance to enter the surface area or the traffic pattern for VFR flight in weather below basic VFR minima as being on an IFR flight plan nor as executing an “instrument approach.” (Do not confuse an “instrument approach” for an “instrument operation.”)

12-4-3. FAA FORM 7230-16, APPROACH DATA WORKSHEET

FAA Form 7230-16 is a worksheet for the purpose of recording instrument approaches. The form does not have a specific arrangement, thus allowing each facility to tailor the form to its own needs. Instrument approaches will be counted by the standard air carrier, air taxi, general aviation, and military categories. At the end of the month, the totals by airport will be transferred to FAA Form 7230-12. The 7230-16 shall be retained in the facility's files.

12-4-4. INTRAFACILITY SYSTEM

Terminal facilities may establish an intrafacility system for denoting an instrument approach; e.g., an appropriate symbol on the strip. However, the data shall be indicated on FAA Form 7230-16 at the end of the watch or the day.

12-4-5. AIRPORTS REPORTED

Instrument approaches shall be reported for all airports to which instrument approaches are conducted when the FAA is responsible for the approach aids. The reporting is the responsibility of the facility which has the authority for clearing the approach. Therefore, the terminal approach control is responsible for reporting instrument approaches for the nontowered airports and the nonapproach control (VFR) towered airports in its area, as well as for the airport at which it is located. At airports where there is an FAA VFR tower, the approach control and the VFR tower shall determine which facility shall maintain the count. If the tower counts the approaches, they shall forward the appropriate totals to the approach control for inclusion in the approach control's monthly report. VFR towers do not report instrument approaches to Washington.

12-4-6. PART-TIME FACILITIES

If an approach control facility has reduced hours of operation, it retains the responsibility for reporting all instrument approaches. Therefore, it must make arrangements to obtain the number of instrument approaches conducted during its nonoperational hours from the facility, either another approach control or the ARTCC, which assumes the approach control jurisdiction during those nonoperational hours. In no case, shall two facilities report instrument approaches for the same location.

12-4-7. MILITARY STAFFED APPROACH CONTROLS

The military services are not required to tabulate or report traffic activity in accordance with this order. Where military approach controls clear instrument approaches into airports where the FAA is responsible for the approach aids, it shall be the responsibility of the Service Area offices to ensure the instrument approaches are correctly reported. They may be reported either by the ATREP or by including the instrument approaches count on an adjacent FAA facility's (terminal or ARTCC) FAA Form 7230-12.

12-4-8. FAA FORM 7230-12 INSTRUMENT APPROACHES MONTHLY SUMMARY

FAA Form 7230-12 is a monthly form, submitted by both centers and terminal approach control facilities, for reporting the number of instrument approaches made at airports for the month. The facility's name and location will be entered; two digits each will be used for the month and the year (January would be 01); and the three-character identifier filled in at the top of form. Terminal facilities shall check box A, B, or D as appropriate. Those facilities checking box A, Common IFR Rooms, RAPCONs, etc., shall not enter any data in the block for “Instrument Approaches Terminating at Primary Approach Control Airport.” These facilities shall list all their airports under the heading “Instrument Approaches to Nonapproach Control Airport” by filling in the airport three-character identifier with the respective monthly totals by category. ATREPs would also report in this manner. Facilities checking box D will report the airport whose identifier has been filled in at the top of the form as the primary approach control airport. This is usually the airport from which the approach control service is provided. All other airports shall be listed under “Instrument Approaches to Nonapproach Control Airports” by filling in the airport three-character identifier with the respective monthly totals by category. If a facility has more airports than can be listed on the front, continue on the back of the form. In this case, the approach control facility's identifier and the month and the year must be entered again at the top of the back. Only centers and approach controls submit this form, not VFR towers, and, in no case, should two facilities report the same airport. Therefore, it may be necessary for facilities to make arrangements to ensure that there is no duplicate reporting of instrument approaches.

12-4-9. DISTRIBUTION AND AMENDMENT

a. Distribute FAA Form 7230-12 as follows: (It may be combined in one envelope with the other monthly forms).

1. The original and one copy to the Terminal Operations Area Office not later than the 2nd workday (Monday-Friday) of the following month.

2. One copy to the facility's files (with FAA Form 7230-16).

3. One copy to the airport manager as requested.

b. Correct any errors in the forms sent in last month by completing a new form, circling the revised fields, and marking the form “AMENDED COPY.” Amended copies of forms more than 1 month old will not be accepted unless approval has been obtained from Aviation Policy, Planning, and Environment, Statistics and Forecast Branch, APO-110, by the respective Terminal Operations Area Office. Send the amended copies along with the current reporting month's forms to the appropriate Terminal Operations Area Office.

12-4-10. FORWARD COPY TO ADJACENT REGION

If the report contains data for an airport which is under the administrative jurisdiction of another Terminal Operations Area Office, also forward a copy to that Terminal Operations Area Office.