DECISION ALTITUDE/DECISION HEIGHT [ICAO] - Pilot/Controller Glossary

📢 This glossary was originallly created to be a dynamic version of the Pilot/Controller Glossary published by the FAA. Because the FAA now maintains its own dynamic version of the Pilot/Controller Glossary, this version is no longer updated.

Term:	DECISION ALTITUDE/DECISION HEIGHT [ICAO]
Meaning:	A specified altitude or height (A/H) in the precision approach at which a missed approach must be initiated if the required visual reference to continue the approach has not been established. Decision altitude (DA) is referenced to mean sea level and decision height (DH) is referenced to the threshold elevation. Category II and III minima are expressed as a DH and not a DA. Minima is assessed by reference to a radio altimeter and not a barometric altimeter, which makes the minima a DH. The required visual reference means that section of the visual aids or of the approach area which should have been in view for sufficient time for the pilot to have made an assessment of the aircraft position and rate of change of position, in relation to the desired flight path.
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