JO 7110.65 Air Traffic ControlJO 7110.65BB · Change 3 · Effective 7/9/2026
Chapter 5 · Section 12
PAR Approaches- Terminal
11 Paragraphs5-12-1–5-12-11
5-12-1 GLIDEPATH NOTIFICATION
Inform the aircraft when it is approaching glidepath (approximately 10 to 30 seconds before final descent).
PHRASEOLOGY
APPROACHING GLIDEPATH.
5-12-2 DECISION ALTITUDE (DA) NOTIFICATION
Provide the DA to any pilot who requests it.
PHRASEOLOGY
DECISION ALTITUDE (number of feet).
5-12-3 DESCENT INSTRUCTION
When an aircraft reaches the point where final descent is to start, instruct it to begin descent.
PHRASEOLOGY
BEGIN DESCENT.
5-12-4 GLIDEPATH AND COURSE INFORMATION
Issue course guidance and inform the aircraft when it is on glidepath and on course, and frequently inform the aircraft of any deviation from glidepath or course. Transmissions with aircraft on precision final approach should occur approximately every 5 seconds.
PHRASEOLOGY
HEADING (heading). ON GLIDEPATH. ON COURSE, or SLIGHTLY/WELL ABOVE/BELOW GLIDEPATH. SLIGHTLY/WELL LEFT/RIGHT OF COURSE.
NOTE
Controllers should not key the radio transmitter continuously during radar approaches to preclude a lengthy communications block. The decision on how often transmitters are unkeyed is the controller's prerogative.
Issue trend information as required, to indicate target position with respect to the azimuth and elevation cursors and to describe target movement as appropriate corrections are issued. Trend information may be modified by the terms “RAPIDLY” or “SLOWLY,” as appropriate.
EXAMPLE
“Going above/below glidepath.” “Going right/left of course.” “Above/below glidepath and coming down/up.” “Above/below glidepath and holding.” “Left/right of course and holding/correcting.”
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-12-7, Position Advisories.
5-12-5 DISTANCE FROM TOUCHDOWN
Inform the aircraft of its distance from touchdown at least once each mile on final approach.
PHRASEOLOGY
(Number of miles) MILES FROM TOUCHDOWN.
5-12-6 DECISION ALTITUDE
Inform the aircraft when it reaches the published decision altitude.
PHRASEOLOGY
AT DECISION ALTITUDE.
5-12-7 POSITION ADVISORIES
Continue to provide glidepath and course information prescribed in paragraph 5-12-4, Glidepath and Course Information, subparagraphs a and b, until the aircraft passes over threshold.
NOTE
Glidepath and course information provided below decision altitude is advisory only. 14 CFR section 91.175 outlines pilot responsibilities for descent below decision altitude.
Inform the aircraft when it is passing over the approach lights.
PHRASEOLOGY
OVER APPROACH LIGHTS.
Inform the aircraft when it is passing over the landing threshold and inform it of its position with respect to the final approach course.
PHRASEOLOGY
OVER LANDING THRESHOLD, (position with respect to course).
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-10-14, Final Approach Abnormalities.
5-12-8 APPROACH GUIDANCE TERMINATION
Discontinue precision approach guidance when:
Requested by the pilot.
In your opinion, continuation of a safe approach to the landing threshold is questionable.
The aircraft passes over landing threshold.
The pilot reports the runway/approach lights in sight and requests to or advises that he/she will proceed visually.
NOTE
A pilot's report of “runway in sight” or “visual” is not a request to proceed visually.
When precision approach guidance is discontinued in accordance with subparagraph a, advise the aircraft of its position and to proceed visually.
PHRASEOLOGY
(Distance) MILE(S) FROM TOUCHDOWN, PROCEED VISUALLY (additional instructions/clearance as required).
After a pilot has reported the runway/approach lights in sight and requested to or advised that he/she will proceed visually, and has been instructed to proceed visually, all PAR approach procedures must be discontinued.
Continue to monitor final approach and frequency. Pilots must remain on final controller's frequency until touchdown or otherwise instructed.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-10-14, Final Approach Abnormalities.
5-12-9 COMMUNICATION TRANSFER
Issue communications transfer instructions.
PHRASEOLOGY
CONTACT (terminal control function) (frequency, if required) AFTER LANDING.
NOTE
Communications transfer instructions should be delayed slightly until the aircraft is on the landing roll‐out to preclude diversion of the pilot's attention during transition and touchdown.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-17, Radio Communications.
5-12-10 ELEVATION FAILURE
If the elevation portion of PAR equipment fails during a precision approach:
Discontinue PAR instructions and tell the aircraft to take over visually or if unable, to execute a missed approach. If the aircraft executes a missed approach, apply subparagraph 2 below.
PHRASEOLOGY
NO GLIDEPATH INFORMATION AVAILABLE. IF RUNWAY, APPROACH/RUNWAY LIGHTS, NOT IN SIGHT, EXECUTE MISSED APPROACH/(alternative instructions).
If a surveillance approach, ASR or PAR without glide slope, is established for the same runway, inform the aircraft that a surveillance approach can be given. Use ASR or the azimuth portion of the PAR to conduct the approach and apply Chapter 5, Radar, Section 11, Surveillance Approaches- Terminal. When the PAR azimuth is used, inform the pilot that mileage information will be from touchdown, and at those runways where specific minima have been established for PAR without glideslope, inform the pilot that the PAR azimuth will be used for the approach.
EXAMPLE
1. Approach information when PAR azimuth used: “This will be a surveillance approach to runway three six. Mileages will be from touchdown.” or “This will be a surveillance approach to runway three six using P-A-R azimuth. Mileages will be from touchdown.” 2. Descent Instructions: “Five miles from touchdown, descend to your minimum descent altitude/minimum altitude.”
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-10-2, Approach Information. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-11-4, Descent Instructions.
If the elevation portion of the PAR equipment is inoperative before starting a precision approach, apply subparagraph a2.
5-12-11 SURVEILLANCE UNUSABLE
PAR approaches may be conducted when the ASR is unusable provided a nonradar instrument approach will position the aircraft over a navigational aid or DME fix within the precision radar coverage, or an adjacent radar facility can provide a direct radar handoff to the PAR controller.
NOTE
The display of the NAVAID or DME fix in accordance with paragraph 5-3-2, Primary Radar Identification Methods, is not required provided the NAVAID or DME fix can be correlated on a PAR scope.