Decision Height

Decision Height

What is Decision Height?

Crucial Moment in Instrument Approaches

Decision Height is the predetermined altitude on an instrument approach where the pilot must decide to continue the landing or execute a missed approach based on visibility conditions.

Decision height (DH) is the specified altitude in an instrument approach at which the pilot must decide whether to continue the descent for landing or execute a missed approach.

• Visibility Requirements: This decision is based on whether the pilot has sufficient visual reference with the runway environment.
• Category I/II/III Approaches: The decision height varies depending on the category of the instrument landing system (ILS) approach being performed.
• Safety Protocol: The decision height is a critical safety parameter, ensuring that landings are conducted only with adequate visibility.

Decision height is a vital concept in instrument flight rules (IFR) operations, providing a critical decision point for pilots during approaches in limited visibility conditions.