When will a pilot most often fly a full approach?

• A. In an area with radar coverage
• B. Only at night
• C. In an area without radar coverage
• D. Only IFR conditions

Answer: (C)

The key idea is whether ATC can guide you by radar vectors. A full approach is when you fly the complete published instrument approach from the initial approach segment all the way to the runway, using your own navigation and altitude constraints to stay on course until the final approach.

In an area without radar coverage, you can’t rely on ATC to vector you to the final approach course, so you typically must fly the entire published approach procedure to land. That’s why this scenario is described as where a full approach would be most often flown.

In contrast, with radar coverage, controllers can vector you to intercept the final approach, which means you don’t necessarily fly the full procedure. Night or IFR conditions don’t by themselves dictate a full approach; the deciding factor is whether you can be guided by radar vectors.