An instrument approach is a published landing procedure that lets an aircraft descend and align for landing using navigation instruments instead of visual references. It is used when weather, darkness, or terrain reduce visibility, and it may rely on ground-based beacons, satellite navigation, or a combination of aids to guide the crew to the runway.
In cyber security, instrument approaches matter because they depend on the integrity and availability of navigation signals. If GNSS data is jammed or spoofed, an approach that expects reliable positioning may become unsafe, forcing a missed approach, diversion, or return to base. Defenders reduce that risk by keeping non-GPS procedures available, training crews for degraded navigation, and monitoring for interference so pilots can trust the approach path or stop the operation before safety is lost.