What is decision altitude in the context of an approach?

In the context of an approach, decision altitude is the critical height at which a pilot must assess the situation and make a decision regarding whether to continue with the landing or execute a missed approach. This decision is typically based on whether the required visual references to the runway have been acquired.

When a pilot reaches decision altitude, they must evaluate their circumstances: if the runway is visible and the approach is stable, they may proceed to land. If visual references are not available, the safe action is to execute a missed approach, taking the necessary steps to transition to an alternate procedure for landing.

Understanding this aspect of decision altitude is essential for maintaining safety during landing operations, as it directly influences pilots' actions in low visibility conditions and ensures they make informed choices based on their visual cues at a defined altitude. The other choices relate to different aspects of flight operations, such as where to begin the approach or minimum safe altitudes, but they do not correctly define the pivotal decision-making point during the approach phase.