What is the additional altitude that should be added to your MEA or MOCA when flying over mountainous terrain in winter?

What is the additional altitude that should be added to your MEA or MOCA when flying over mountainous terrain in winter?

• A. 500 ft
• B. 1000 ft
• C. 1500 ft
• D. 2000 ft

Answer: (B)

When flying over mountainous terrain, particularly during winter, an additional altitude must be incorporated to account for safety margins due to the potential for lower temperatures and higher density altitudes which can affect aircraft performance. In such conditions, a standard rule is to add 1,000 feet to the Minimum En Route Altitude (MEA) or Minimum Obstacle Clearance Altitude (MOCA). This additional clearance serves to provide an extra safety buffer against terrain features and ensures sufficient vertical separation. Given winter’s unique challenges—such as the potential for lower visibility and ice formation—maintaining this additional altitude enhances the safety of the flight. It is important to note that while there are other considerations regarding altitudes, the commonly accepted practice in many jurisdictions, including those influenced by regulatory guidelines and operational safety analysis, is to increase the altitude by 1,000 feet when navigating mountainous regions in winter.

When flying over mountainous terrain, particularly during winter, an additional altitude must be incorporated to account for safety margins due to the potential for lower temperatures and higher density altitudes which can affect aircraft performance. In such conditions, a standard rule is to add 1,000 feet to the Minimum En Route Altitude (MEA) or Minimum Obstacle Clearance Altitude (MOCA).

This additional clearance serves to provide an extra safety buffer against terrain features and ensures sufficient vertical separation. Given winter’s unique challenges—such as the potential for lower visibility and ice formation—maintaining this additional altitude enhances the safety of the flight.

It is important to note that while there are other considerations regarding altitudes, the commonly accepted practice in many jurisdictions, including those influenced by regulatory guidelines and operational safety analysis, is to increase the altitude by 1,000 feet when navigating mountainous regions in winter.