How should you adjust minimums when one or more component of an approach is out of service? Where is this information found?

• A. Fly the highest prescribed minimums by any single working component
• B. Fly the lowest prescribed minimums by any single working component
• C. Use the published MDA/DA/DH minimums regardless of components
• D. Abort the approach if any component is out of service

Answer: (A)

When a component of an instrument approach is out of service, you must use the minimums that correspond to the remaining working components, and you choose the highest of those minimums. This ensures you’re operating with the most restrictive, and therefore the safest, requirement given the guidance you still have. In practice, if the approach has several elements that can provide guidance, the remaining valid components each have their own published minimums; you don’t drop below the highest of these, because the missing component could have provided an additional margin that you’re no longer guaranteed.

This guidance is found in the FAA Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16) and in AIM discussions about inoperative components on instrument approaches. They explain that when a component is inoperative, you must apply the higher of the minimums associated with the working components and proceed only if you can meet those minimums. If no valid minima remain, the approach isn’t authorized; otherwise you continue using the elevated minimums rather than the full published minimums.