profile descent

profile descent

An uninterrupted descent (except where level flight is required for speed adjustment—e.g., 180 knots at 15,000 ft) from cruising altitude or flight level to the interception of glide-slope or to a minimum altitude specified for the initial or intermediate approach segment of a non-precision instrument approach. Such an approach usually terminates at the approach gate where the glide-slope or other appropriate minimum altitude is intercepted.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved