Minimum altitudes
MSA, MEA, MOCA and MRA each guarantee something different — terrain clearance, navigation reception, or communications. Knowing which applies is the difference between legal and lucky.
Holding
A standard hold is a right-hand racetrack with one-minute legs below 14,000 ft. Entries are direct, parallel or teardrop depending on the intercept angle. Wind correction is applied by adjusting the outbound leg timing.
Approach structure
Arrival, initial, intermediate and final segments, then the missed approach. Every instrument approach is built from these blocks, which is why an unfamiliar chart is still readable.
Key points
- Standard hold: right turns, 1-minute legs below 14,000 ft.
- MEA guarantees navigation reception; MOCA only guarantees obstacle clearance.
- Every approach has the same segment structure.
Knowledge check