What is the difference between a precision approach and a non-precision approach?

• A. Precision provides both lateral and vertical guidance; non-precision provides only lateral guidance
• B. Precision provides only vertical guidance
• C. Non-precision provides both
• D. Non-precision provides no guidance

Answer: (A)

The difference lies in whether vertical guidance is provided in addition to lateral guidance. A precision approach gives you both: you follow a glide path for vertical descent alongside the runway centerline guidance, allowing a controlled descent and a decision point (DA/DH) to land or go around. A non-precision approach, on the other hand, provides only lateral guidance to the runway centerline; there is no published vertical path, so you descend to a minimum descent altitude or continue visually if you have the runway in sight. That’s why the statement that precision offers both lateral and vertical guidance while non-precision offers only lateral guidance is the best description. The other ideas mix up which type provides vertical guidance or deny guidance altogether.