In aviation practices, what is the term for the height at which visual references are required during an approach?

The term that best describes the height at which visual references are required during an approach is Decision Height. This is a critical altitude in aviation where a pilot must decide whether to continue the approach and land or execute a go-around. At or below this altitude, pilots are expected to have adequate visual references to proceed with the landing. If visual references are not established by this height, the safe decision is to abort the landing and execute a go-around. The Decision Height is essential for maintaining safety during landing operations, especially in conditions where visibility may be limited.

In contrast, the other terms do not accurately encapsulate this critical point in the approach phase. Guidance Height typically refers to the height at which a pilot aligns with the guidance system, while Altitude Reference could broadly describe various altitude concepts but does not pinpoint the critical decision-making moment of the landing approach. Visual Threshold refers to the physical point on the runway where the visual portion of the approach begins, rather than the altitude at which a decision must be made. Each of these alternatives reflects different aspects of aviation navigation and operations but does not serve the specific purpose of indicating the decision-making altitude during an approach like Decision Height does.