Under what condition may a precision approach continue if the reported visibility drops below minimums?

Under what condition may a precision approach continue if the reported visibility drops below minimums?

• A. Established on the glide slope at or below the published intercept altitude
• B. When runway is in sight
• C. When automatic landing system is engaged
• D. When you cross the missed approach point

Answer: (A)

In a precision approach, you may continue only if you’re on the proper instrument flight path despite the visibility dropping below minimums. Specifically, you must be established on the glide slope and at or below the published intercept altitude. Being established on the glide slope means you’re properly captured and tracking the vertical guidance along the glide path with acceptable deviations. Being at or below the intercept altitude ensures you’re at the correct point to continue the descent on the protected path toward the runway. If you’re not on the glide slope, or you’re above the published intercept altitude, continuing would take you off the protected path and into higher risk, so you should not continue. Merely having the runway in sight does not override the minimums for a precision approach, and an engaged automatic landing system does not by itself permit continuing below minimums. Crossing the missed approach point indicates you’d be committed to a missed approach rather than continuing the landing.

In a precision approach, you may continue only if you’re on the proper instrument flight path despite the visibility dropping below minimums. Specifically, you must be established on the glide slope and at or below the published intercept altitude. Being established on the glide slope means you’re properly captured and tracking the vertical guidance along the glide path with acceptable deviations. Being at or below the intercept altitude ensures you’re at the correct point to continue the descent on the protected path toward the runway.

If you’re not on the glide slope, or you’re above the published intercept altitude, continuing would take you off the protected path and into higher risk, so you should not continue. Merely having the runway in sight does not override the minimums for a precision approach, and an engaged automatic landing system does not by itself permit continuing below minimums. Crossing the missed approach point indicates you’d be committed to a missed approach rather than continuing the landing.