Instrument Flight For Army Aviators Practice Test

To descend below the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA), Decision Altitude (DA), or Decision Height (DH), specific visibility criteria must be met. The primary requirement is that the runway must be in sight. This means that the pilot should have a clear visual reference to the runway to ensure a safe approach and landing. While approach lights can provide valuable references during the final stages of an approach, they alone do not meet the requirement to descend below those minimum altitudes. Cloud cover is also a factor in visibility, but merely being under or above cloud cover does not inherently fulfill the requirement unless the runway is also visible. Therefore, the comprehensive nature of the correct choice reflects that for safety and regulation compliance, a pilot must have the runway in sight, which allows for a safe transition from an instrument approach to visual flight conditions, and that approach lights can aid in this visibility. This highlights the importance of visual confirmation of the landing environment in achieving a safe landing.