What does MDA stand for in aviation terms?

MDA stands for Minimum Descent Altitude in aviation terms. It refers to the lowest altitude to which a pilot may descend during an approach without having visual reference to the runway environment. This is crucial for maintaining safety during precision approaches and ensures that pilots are appropriately positioned when they need to decide whether to continue the approach or execute a go-around.

Understanding MDA is essential for conducting instrument approaches, as it provides a definitive point at which a pilot must either have the required visual references to land or initiate a climb to follow the missed approach procedure if those references are not available. MDA is typically used in non-precision approaches, while other terms may apply to different scenarios or types of descents, but it is the MDA that specifically sets the minimum elevation for continuing safely.