---
title: "GM35 Annex I Definitions — ANNEX I – Definitions, Air OPS · Avioverse"
description: "MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE (MDA) OR MINIMUM DESCENT HEIGHT (MDH) (a) Minimum descent altitude (MDA) is referenced to mean sea level and minimum descent…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/definitions/powers-and-recitals/gm35-annex-i-definitions"
---

# GM35 Annex I Definitions

ANNEX I – Definitions · Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

Official sources: [EASA Easy Access Rules (opens in a new tab)](https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/easy-access-rules/easy-access-rules-air-operations) · [EUR-Lex 2012/965 (opens in a new tab)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32012R0965)

GM Guidance material

## GM35 Annex I Definitions

[MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE (MDA) OR MINIMUM DESCENT HEIGHT (MDH)](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/minimum-descent-altitude-or-minimum-descent-height)

(a) Minimum descent altitude (MDA) is referenced to mean sea level and minimum descent height (MDH) is referenced to the aerodrome elevation or to the threshold elevation if that is more than 7 ft below the aerodrome elevation. An MDH for a [circling](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/circling) approach is referenced to the aerodrome elevation.

(b) For operations using MDA, the [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) altimeters are set to QNH. For operations using a barometric MDH, the aircraft altimeters are set to QFE.

(c) For convenience, when both expressions are used, they may be written in the form ‘minimum descent altitude/height’ and abbreviated ‘MDA/H’.

GM — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2022/012/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

[All rules in Powers and recitals](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/definitions/powers-and-recitals)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 27 Mar 2026, extracted 2 Nov 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.