Stan Gosnell wrote:
John Harper wrote:

I flew the San Jose (KSJC) ILS 30L approach on Sunday, and
noticed that there is no charted FAF, i.e. no Maltese Cross. I
use Jepp plates but I just looked at the NOS plate on the AOPA
site and it's the same. There's also no OM - although there is
an MM.

Seems strange - anyone have any idea why? I thought that all
approaches had to have an FAF?

Stan,

You are not quite correct.

An ILS has a Final Approach Point, not a FAF.

Every ILS (in the US) has a FAF at the point where you intersect the
glideslope per the chart or per ATC altitudes. A FAP occurs on
non-precision approach when, for example, the VOR is situated on-field and
no specific point can be identified on the approach using DME etc.


This is the point at which
you intercept the glideslope at the procedure turn altitude.

Procedure turn has nothing to do with it. You could do a procedure turn,
step down a few times, then intersect the glideslope at the FAF.


LOMs are
being decommissioned, and outer markers seem to be receiving little
maintenance, since they aren't required. You will see an altitude on the
chart, showing the altitude at which you should intercept the glideslope,
and this is the FAP. Its only practical use is to make sure you're on the
true glideslope.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem to imply that the LOM occurs at the
glideslope intersect point (FAF). Usually, LOMs occurs after starting the
descent on the GS.

Hilton