What altitude must be maintained at or above during a non-precision approach until the MAP?

During a non-precision approach, the altitude that must be maintained at or above until the Missed Approach Point (MAP) is known as the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA). The MDA is the lowest altitude to which a pilot may descend without visual reference during the approach when utilizing non-precision navigation aids. It is critical for ensuring that the aircraft remains safely above the terrain and obstacles while the pilot attempts to acquire visual references for landing.

The MDA is established based on the approach procedure and considers the surrounding terrain, ensuring that pilots have adequate terrain clearance until they are able to visually identify the runway environment and transition to landing. Once the MDA is reached and if the required visual references are not acquired, the pilot must execute a missed approach.

In contrast, other terms such as Minimum Arrival Height and Missed Approach Height refer to specific altitudes that may not necessarily apply to non-precision approaches or could relate to different phases of flight. Transition Level involves pressure altitude and setting the appropriate barometric pressure based on the altimeter setting, which is not relevant to the non-precision approach criteria itself. Therefore, MDA is the correct concept to focus on when discussing altitudes for non-precision approaches.