Anflüge

Anflüge, plural of Anflug, is a German term used mainly in aviation and military contexts. In civilian aviation, it denotes the approach phase of flight—the period when an aircraft transitions from cruising altitude toward the landing runway and aligns for landing.

During the Anflug, the aircraft follows an established approach procedure or is guided by air traffic control. Anflüge can be instrument approaches (IFR) or visual approaches (VFR). Published approaches are called Anflugverfahren and include ILS, VOR/DME, NDB, and RNAV (GPS) approaches. The approach is typically divided into initial, intermediate, and final segments, culminating in the landing flare.

In instrument approaches, pilots descend with help from navigation aids and maintain specified minimum altitudes and speeds. Controllers provide vectors or clearances to the final approach course and ensure separation from other traffic. A glide path (Gleitpfad) may be used in precision approaches to guide descent.

In military terminology, Anflüge can refer to approaching aircraft or attack runs directed at a target, and may describe several successive approaches by enemy units or strikes.

In German aviation literature, the term is commonly equated with “approach” or “approach path” in English and is an essential concept in flight operations and planning.