approach pattern
1
6.5
- noun
- Specialized
:
patrón de aproximación
- During training, the students practiced various approach patterns to familiarize themselves with landing procedures.
Examples
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Air traffic control instructed the aircraft to maintain their designated approach pattern to ensure a safe landing.
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Are they in the proper approach pattern for today?
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They designed exhaust nozzle mixers as well and evaluated steeper approach patterns to minimize noise on the ground.
Academic text (2003) -
The pilots confirmed that they were following the correct approach pattern as they prepared for landing.
Synonyms
90
2.5
A movement that brings something closer to a target
1
5.7
The path a plane follows when coming down to land
1
4.6
A path planes follow around an airport before landing
1
5.5
The route a plane follows when going down to land, especially the last part before it touches the ground
1
4.4
A path a plane follows as it comes down to land
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'the prescribed flight path during landing' is directly derivable from combining 'approach' (the landing/closing phase) with 'pattern' (a route or arrangement). This is a straightforward noun-noun compound following normal composition patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning even if the term is used in a technical context.
Etymology
Approach pattern comes from the two words approach (meaning 'coming toward the runway') and pattern (a set route pilots follow). Pilots fly this set route like an invisible road in the sky to line up for landing, so the phrase means the planned flight path a plane follows when preparing to land.