Which acronym describes height above surface (AGL) for the DA/MDA above the highest terrain within 5,200 feet of the missed approach point?

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Multiple Choice

Which acronym describes height above surface (AGL) for the DA/MDA above the highest terrain within 5,200 feet of the missed approach point?

Height above surface is the measure of how high the airplane sits above the terrain directly under and around the flight path. For the DA/MDA, expressing altitude as HAS means you’re using the height above the highest terrain within 5,200 feet of the missed approach point. This ties the decision altitude to the actual terrain that could affect obstacle clearance, giving a true AGL reference to the surrounding terrain. For example, if the DA is 7,500 feet MSL and the highest terrain within the 5,200-foot radius around the MAP is 4,000 feet MSL, the HAS is 3,500 feet. Other acronyms describe different concepts (for instance, HAL and HAT relate to runway or threshold references), while MAP denotes the missed approach point itself, not a height measurement.

Height above surface is the measure of how high the airplane sits above the terrain directly under and around the flight path. For the DA/MDA, expressing altitude as HAS means you’re using the height above the highest terrain within 5,200 feet of the missed approach point. This ties the decision altitude to the actual terrain that could affect obstacle clearance, giving a true AGL reference to the surrounding terrain. For example, if the DA is 7,500 feet MSL and the highest terrain within the 5,200-foot radius around the MAP is 4,000 feet MSL, the HAS is 3,500 feet. Other acronyms describe different concepts (for instance, HAL and HAT relate to runway or threshold references), while MAP denotes the missed approach point itself, not a height measurement.

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