The minima section of an RNAV or GPS approach chart looks like a bowl of alphabet soup. Full of ever-changing acronyms, it’s hard for the weekend flyer to keep up. To help, I studied the AIM and compiled this at-a-glance list of GPS approach minima and what they mean to you.
| Minima | In English | Details |
| GLS | GNSS Landing System | GLS uses LAAS (Local Area Augmentation System) to provide ILS-like lateral and vertical guidance. GLS is still under development |
| LPV | Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance | Uses WAAS to provide ILS-like lateral and vertical guidance. Minimums will be slightly higher than GLS |
| LNAV/VNAV | Lateral Navigation with Vertical Navigation | Vertical guidance provided by a barometric altimeter based system or WAAS GPS |
| LP | Localizer Performance | Localizer-like performance provided by a WAAS capable GPS. No vertical guidance |
| LNAV | Lateral Navigation | Step-down non precision approach with no vertical guidance. Any GPS certified for IFR approaches can fly to LNAV minimums |
All of this information and more is in the latest Airman Information Manual. For the 2013 manual, check pages 5-4-21 and 5-4-22.
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