What do they mean by "MINIMUMS" ?

Question

Until I pick the proper 6 numbers in the lottery, I suspect I will never own an airplane.

But until then... I entertain my fantasy by checking out all the air related videos on YouTube.

On a few of them ( usually landing in bad weather) I heard the term "MINIMUMS" uttered from the cockpit.

Was that from the flight crew or some automated system?

What exactly does that mean?

Thanks

Answer 1

Minimums is the lowest altitude you are allowed to descend to during the approach before making visual contact. (Although just seeing the approach lights, or rabbit, is considered visual contact) Continuing an approach below the mda without visual contact can result in fines and a suspension or revocation of your certificate. As a side not, the biggest lie you will hear from any instrument rated pilot is "Me, no, I've never busted minimums."

Answer 2

Each specific instrument approach--and some airports have many different approaches for different runways, aircraft, and conditions--has a published set of "minimums."  These are the minimum ceiling (height from ground to lowest obscuring cloud layer) and visibility (distance to nearest obscuring haze or cloud) under which that approach can legally be made.

The more sophisticated the approach, the lower the minimums.  For example, a simple NDB approach might have minimums of 1,000 feet and two miles, while a precision ILS approach might have minimums of 250 feet and half a mile.

Obviously the surrounding terrain and obstacles also affect the mimimums for any given approach.

The minimums are published on the "approach plate" for each instrument approach.  This is a pictorial diagram of the approach with everything the pilot needs to know to accomplish the approach safely.  Approach plates are bound in a snap-ring binder and updated regularly.

Minimums are usually discussed among the flight deck crew when nearing the approach.  There are automated systems that can read approach information to the crew from a database.

For more information with lots of helpful graphics, try an internet search on "instrument approach."

Answer 3

it's automated....its called the GPWS. Ground proximity warning system

Minimums means the altitude which you decide to continue with the approach or abort.

Answer 4

Refers to the minimum altitude, ceiling, other conditions, necessary to be legal in flight.

Answer 5

Minimums is the lowest or closest an aircraft can go to an airport when on an instrument approach.  When the aircraft is at minimums, you must have visual contact with the airport or pull up and do a missed approach.

Minimums is called by the pilot monitoring the instruments or can be automated on some aircraft (after the pilot enters the data) .

Answer 6

You heard the automated callout, triggered at a set height on the radar altimeter.

In the US "Minimums" are:  the minimum altitude for deciding whether to continue the approach, and the minimum flight  visibility required for continuing the approach.  

In the US, the published minimum ceiling and minimum flight visibility apply to military IFR operations and to civil aircraft flying IFR approaches to military airports.

There are a few IFR approaches outside the US (e.g. some in Bolivia) which have a ceiling minimum for civil operators.