Definition
The minimum descent altitude or decision altitude/height and the corresponding visibility required to complete an approach when ATC radar is used for course guidance, as published on an instrument approach procedure chart for ASR (Airport Surveillance Radar) or PAR (Precision Approach Radar) approaches.
Plain English
The lowest altitude a pilot can descend to, and the visibility needed, when a controller is guiding the aircraft down toward the runway using radar instead of onboard navigation signals.
Context Anchor
Seen in the landing minimums section of an instrument approach chart or related approach data.
Derivation
Radar comes from 'Radio Detection and Ranging.' Minima is Latin for 'smallest things,' the plural of minimum. Together: the smallest (lowest) altitude and visibility values usable when descending under radar guidance.
Why Pilots Care
Determines the safe point at which a pilot must decide to land or execute a missed approach during a radar-guided arrival.
Intuition Check
Radar minima does not mean the minimum radar equipment needed in the airplane. It means the minimum altitude and visibility allowed for a radar approach.
Example Sentence 1
With the ILS out of service, the crew briefed the radar minima for the PAR approach to runway 27.
Example Sentence 2
Because visibility was below the radar minima, the crew executed the missed approach procedure.