DA stands for what term?

• A. Decision altitude
• B. Descent Angle
• C. Departure Altitude
• D. Descend Altitude

Answer: (A)

DA, or Decision Altitude, is the altitude on a precision instrument approach at which you must decide to continue the approach visually or execute a missed approach. On approaches like ILS or GLS, you descend to DA on the glideslope; if the required visual cues (runway environment, lights, etc.) are in sight at or before reaching DA, you may continue and land. If they are not, you must initiate a missed approach. In other regions you might hear Decision Height, which serves the same purpose but is referenced differently. The other terms describe different concepts (angle of descent, departure altitude, or an unofficial term) and do not denote the point of decision on a precision approach.