Which statement is true regarding descending below ACA?

Which statement is true regarding descending below ACA?

• A. Descend below ACA if you have the runway in sight
• B. Descend below ACA without clearance if weather is good
• C. To descend below ACA, you must have clearance to land
• D. Descend below ACA during a missed approach

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that instrument approach procedures include published altitude constraints that protect obstacle clearance on the final approach. ACA is one of those constraints, a specific altitude you may not descend below while on the approach unless you have explicit clearance to proceed with a landing. Descend below ACA only after ATC has given you a landing clearance. That clearance confirms you’re authorized to descend further and complete the approach to land. Merely seeing the runway or having good weather does not override this requirement, because the altitude constraint is there to maintain safe separation and obstacle clearance along the approach path. During a missed approach, the procedure directs you to climb to a specified altitude rather than descend, so descending below ACA isn’t appropriate in that phase.

The key idea is that instrument approach procedures include published altitude constraints that protect obstacle clearance on the final approach. ACA is one of those constraints, a specific altitude you may not descend below while on the approach unless you have explicit clearance to proceed with a landing.

Descend below ACA only after ATC has given you a landing clearance. That clearance confirms you’re authorized to descend further and complete the approach to land. Merely seeing the runway or having good weather does not override this requirement, because the altitude constraint is there to maintain safe separation and obstacle clearance along the approach path. During a missed approach, the procedure directs you to climb to a specified altitude rather than descend, so descending below ACA isn’t appropriate in that phase.