Last month we published an excellent article by Lee Smith, “Danger Below MDA.” In it, Lee points out that for many non-precision approaches you can’t tell from the approach chart, no matter whether you’re using AeroNav or Jeppesen charts, what level of obstruction clearance you have—or don’t have—below the MDA on your way to the runway.
Look Out Below
Key Takeaways:
- Non-precision approach charts do not clearly depict obstruction clearance below the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA), placing the burden on pilots to visually avoid obstacles.
- While GPS navigators provide vertical guidance for non-precision approaches, this guidance typically continues below the MDA to the runway and does not guarantee obstacle clearance.
- Pilots should not rely on GPS vertical guidance for obstacle avoidance once visual and below the MDA on a non-precision approach; instead, they must actively fly visually.
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