Maltese Cross Meaning Aviation

It is designated on government charts by the maltese cross symbol for nonprecision approaches and the lightning bolt symbol designating the pfaf for precision approaches.

Maltese cross meaning aviation. The localizer faf may be inside or outside marker begin descent at interception see livermore chart the. The maltese cross is steeped in history and politics making its first notable appearance in the middle ages during the crusades. The maltese cross is a cross symbol consisting of four v or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles two tips pointing outward symmetrically. Although chiefly associated with the knights hospitaller and by extension with the island of malta it has come to be used by a wide array of entities since the early modern period.

The maltese cross on approach plates is the final approach fix for non precision approaches only. The first is the maltese cross which they specifically refer to in non precision approaches. It goes on to talk about intercepting above or below the depicted altitude and if that it the case then the intercept point becomes the final approach point. The maltese cross is a symbol that is most commonly associated with the knights of malta also known as the knights hospitallers who ruled the maltese islands between 1530 and 1798.

3 00 2 votes this symbol takes its name from the island nation of malta in the southern mediterranean sea which it has been associated with since the 16th century and of where a version of the symbol appears on the. Here s a look into this global symbol. The other marking they refer to is the lightening bolt. It is a heraldic cross variant which developed from earlier forms of eight pointed crosses in the 16th century.

History of the maltese cross. The maltese cross meaning has many significances including the one of courage and bravery among their knights to set in stone their commitment. Most people usually confuse the maltese cross and the iron cross. The faf for an ils is the point you intercept the glideslope at the designated altitude on the chart.

It was adopted by the early knights of malta as a design for their shields because it was perfect for riding horses into battle without being too bulky and cumbersome. An ils should be timed passing the non precision faf maltese cross. This guarantees awareness if the glideslope fails and you need to continue with a localizer only approach. But what does it mean and why is it so popular.

The maltese cross is a popular symbol commonly found on medals of honor coats of arms architecture jewelry airlines and sports team. The maltese cross had its origins during the crusades symbolizing the knights of that period. The maltese cross has around eight points on it. That is specifically referred to the recommended g s intercept point and the final approach point.

Or when atc directs a lower than published glideslope path or vertical path intercept altitude it is the resultant actual point of the glideslope path or vertical path intercept. Maltese cross meaning folklore and symbolism the maltese cross is a star symbol entailing 4 v shaped arrowheads uniting at a central apex at right angles with the 2 tips directing outward. The maltese cross is nowadays widely used and associated with malta as a country used by the national airline air malta as part of its livery and even featuring on the maltese euro coins for example.