What does MAP stand for in instrument approaches?

• A. Missed Approach Point
• B. Mandatory Approach Point
• C. Minimum Altitude Point
• D. Missed Altitude Point

Answer: (A)

MAP stands for Missed Approach Point. It marks the point on the final approach where you must have the required visual references to land; if they’re not visible, you initiate the published missed approach.

On non-precision approaches, the MAP is a fixed point along the final approach course (often a designated fix or the runway threshold). On precision approaches, the decision to land or go around is made at the decision altitude/height, and the actual missed approach is started at DA/DH rather than at a separate MAP.

Those other terms aren’t standard in instrument flying, which is why they aren’t used to describe this point.