A pilot is flying an IFR flight in an area depicting a Minimum Off-Route Altitude (MORA) of 10,000 feet. The aircraft is equipped with a non-WAAS GPS, and the pilot is navigating off-airway using direct-to waypoints. The current altitude is 8,000 feet MSL. What is the significance of the 10,000-foot MORA in this situation?
- AIt provides 1,000 feet of obstacle clearance (2,000 feet in mountainous terrain).
- BIt is the minimum altitude at which ATC can vector the aircraft in the area.
- CIt indicates the lowest altitude for radar coverage in the area.
- DIt guarantees navigation signal reception for the area.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. It provides 1,000 feet of obstacle clearance (2,000 feet in mountainous terrain).
A Minimum Off-Route Altitude (MORA) or Off-Route Obstacle Clearance Altitude (OROCA) is an altitude depicted on IFR en route charts (usually in grids). It guarantees obstacle clearance (1,000 feet in non-mountainous, 2,000 feet in mountainous areas) within 10 nautical miles on either side of the center line of an airway or route segment, or within a grid area. It does NOT guarantee navigation signal reception or communication coverage.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Minimum Vectoring Altitudes (MVAs) are for ATC use and are generally lower, designed for specific radar coverage.
- C. MORA/OROCA does not guarantee radar coverage; that's related to MVA and radar capabilities.
- D. MORA/OROCA does not guarantee navigation signal reception.
Minimum Off-Route Altitude (MORA)
An altitude depicted on IFR en route charts (either grid MORA or route MORA) that provides obstacle clearance (1,000 feet in non-mountainous, 2,000 feet in mountainous terrain) within a specified area or along a route segment.
- Provides obstacle clearance only.
- Does NOT guarantee navigation signal reception.
- Does NOT guarantee communication or radar coverage.
- Found on IFR en route low/high altitude charts.
Memory trick: MORA: 'Obstacle Clearance is All' it provides.