Descent to DA or MDA and Beyond

When to Descend, al respecto se debe señalar que en el párrafo donde se especifican las condiciones que deben ocurrir para permitir que la aeronave pueda abandonar la MDA o DA y cuándo se permite bajar hasta 100 ft. por sobre el TDZE, que no significa lo mismo que “bajarse 100 f.t de la mínima” como comúnmente se suele señalar.

Al respecto, se debe expresar que lo señalado se aplica tanto para las aproximaciones precisas como no precisas.

When to Descend  

What Do you Need? When you are on an instrument approach, the regulations (14 CFR 91.175(c)(3)) state that you may descend below MDA or DH only if:

 • The aircraft is continuously in a position allowing for normal rate of descent to a landing on the intended runway; 

• The flight visibility is at or above the visibility required to complete the approach; and  • At least one of the following visual references for the intended runway is distinctly visible and identifiable to the pilot:  

• The approach light system, except that you may not descend below 100 feet above the touchdown zone elevation using the approach lights as a reference unless the red terminating bars or the red side row bars are also distinctly visible and identifiable  

• The threshold.  

• The threshold markings;  

• The threshold lights; 

• The runway end identifier lights;  

• The visual approach slope indicator;  

• The touchdown zone or touchdown zone markings;  

• The runway or runway markings;  

• The runway lights. 

Aporte Piloto Olegario Reyes