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3 Answers

What does CFDRT and CFDRW mean on LOC Approach plate

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Instrument Rating, Student Pilot

On the Oneonta Muni (N66) LOC RWY 24 Approach Plate there are two items (CFDRW) and (CFDRT) listed in the plan view section. (CFDRW) also appears on the vertical profile at the missed approach point.  

Can anyone tell me what they mean? Can't find any reference to them in FAA legend. 

3 Answers



  1. John Scarry on Mar 04, 2017

    These are computer navigation fixes. Your GPS uses them for sequencing but they have no ATC function. AeroNav is in the process of renaming all of them to start with CF.

    FAA-H-8083-16 Instrument Procedures Handbook
    Computer Navigation Performance

    An integral part of RNAV using en route charts typically involves the use of airborne navigation databases. Because GPS receivers are basically “to-to” navigators, they must always be navigating to a defined point. On overlay approaches, if no pronounceable five-character name is published for an approach waypoint or fix, it has been given a database identifier consisting of letters and numbers. These points appear in the list of waypoints in the approach procedure database, but may not appear on the approach chart. A point used for the purpose of defining the navigation track for an airborne computer system (i.e., GPS or FMS) is called a Computer Navigation Fix (CNF). CNFs include unnamed DME fixes, beginning and ending points of DME arcs, and sensor final approach fixes (FAFs) on some GPS overlay approaches.

    To aid in the approach chart/database correlation process, the FAA has begun a program to assign five-letter names to CNFs and to chart CNFs on various National Oceanic Service aeronautical products. [Figure 2-55] These CNFs are not to be used for any ATC application, such as holding for which the fix has not already been assessed. CNFs are charted to distinguish them from conventional reporting points, fixes, intersections, and waypoints. A CNF name is enclosed in parenthesis, e.g., (MABEE) and is placed next to the CNF it defines. If the CNF is not at an existing point defined by means such as crossing radials or radial/DME, the point is indicated by an X. The CNF name is not used in filing a flight plan or in aircraft/ATC communications. Use current phraseology (e.g., facility name, radial, distance) to describe these fixes.

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  2. jlrose1 on Mar 04, 2017

    Thanks John,

    With the info you supplied I found the following link to a 2012 FAA Discussion about the use of CNF’s on IFR Charts.

    https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afs/afs400/afs420/acfipg/media/closed/Hist_12-02-303.pdf

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  3. Mark Kolber on Mar 05, 2017

    For a more mundane pilot reference, they are also discussed in the AIM and the Instrument Procedures Handbook

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