Minimums

Procedures

Decision altitude (DA), decision height (DH), minimum descent altitude (MDA)

The lowest altitude, height or visibility at which an approach may continue.

On a precision approach such as an ILS the limit is a decision altitude (DA) or decision height (DH): if the required visual references are not in sight when you reach it, you go around.
On a non-precision approach it is the minimum descent altitude (MDA), below which you may not descend until you see the runway environment.

Minima are briefed before every approach, and the crew calls “approaching minimums” and “minimums” on the way down.

Also known as

minimadecision altitudedecision heightminimum descent altitudeMDA

See also

ILS Missed approach RVR Final approach

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