In instrument approaches, what does DH stand for?

• A. Decision Height
• B. Deck Height
• C. Delta Height
• D. Defined Height

Answer: (A)

Decision Height is the vertical position at which a landing decision must be made on a precision instrument approach with vertical guidance. As you descend the glide path, you must have the runway environment in sight at this height to continue the approach and land; if you don’t, you must execute a missed approach. This height is published on the approach plate and is typically expressed as feet above the airport elevation or touchdown zone, with Cat I usually around 200 feet and Cat II/III lower as the capability increases. On non-precision approaches that lack vertical guidance, a different term—Decision Altitude—is used instead. The other terms like deck height, delta height, or defined height aren’t the standard terminology for this concept.