Which approach type should remain strictly above MDA?

The correct choice indicates that non-precision approaches should remain strictly above the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) until the pilot has visual reference to the runway or the approach lights, enabling a safe landing.

Non-precision approaches, such as VOR or NDB approaches, provide lateral guidance but do not provide vertical guidance to the pilot. As a result, they rely heavily on the pilot's ability to visually discern the environment for the final stages of the approach. The MDA represents the lowest altitude to which the pilot may descend until reaching the necessary visual references for landing. Descending below the MDA without those references would increase the risk of terrain or obstacle collision.

On the other hand, precision approaches, such as ILS (Instrument Landing System), provide both lateral and vertical guidance, allowing for a more accurate descent profile. In these approaches, pilots can descend to the Decision Height (DH), which is a decision point where they must either continue the approach or go around, based on visual cues.

GPS approaches can also be either precision or non-precision, depending on the type of approach procedure. Therefore, their management of altitude varies accordingly, with precision GPS approaches offering guidance down to a set decision altitude.

Understanding the nature of non