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 often fail to clearly depict obstacle clearance below the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA), making it difficult for pilots to assess safety.
- While GPS navigators provide vertical guidance for non-precision approaches, this guidance continues below the MDA and *does not guarantee obstacle clearance* in that segment.
- Pilots are warned against relying on GPS vertical guidance below the MDA, even when "on glideslope," as doing so can lead to tragic collisions with unseen obstacles.
- Once below the MDA on a non-precision approach with vertical GPS guidance, pilots should prioritize flying visually and "get your head outside" to actively avoid obstacles.
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