During a PAR approach, what must you do if you reach the DA/DH and the runway environment is not visible?

During a Precision Approach Radar (PAR) approach, reaching the Decision Altitude (DA) or Decision Height (DH) without visual confirmation of the runway environment necessitates executing a missed approach. The purpose of the missed approach is to ensure safety; if the runway is not in sight at the appropriate altitude, the pilot must not attempt to land, as doing so could compromise safety.

Executing a missed approach involves following a predetermined procedure designed to keep the aircraft clear of obstacles and guide it to a safe altitude until a safe landing can again be attempted. This standard procedure ensures that the aircraft can safely navigate away from the approach path while maintaining situational awareness and avoiding potential conflicts with terrain or other air traffic.

The other options do not adequately address the safety protocol required in this situation. For instance, continuing to hold would not be advisable if the runway environment remains unseen, as this could lead to an extended period in a potentially hazardous situation. Following published departure procedures could be irrelevant if the weather conditions that necessitated the missed approach persist. Finally, ascending to the minimum safe altitude, while necessary in some contexts, does not directly address the need to execute a missed approach procedure based on visual conditions at DA/DH. Therefore, following the missed approach procedure is