ORCA lower than MEA?

Sam Spade wrote:


E-MSAW is the only way to reconstruct MIA sectors because, unlike MVAs,
there are not video map files for MIAs. In my FOIA I first requested
the actual MIA maps for ZLA, and was quoted a charge of $14,000.


I can believe that. The last time we redrew the map it took one of our
guys a month or so to do it. It is not in an electronic format such as
a jpg. The MVA chart is drawn on a sectional and mailed to the people
who handle this with all the supporting documents. These people then
look at it and approve it and mail us back the electronic maps that get
installed in the system. It's pretty comical how much work that goes
into it.



No doubt, MVA and MIA data would be useless unless it is both current
and georeferenced in a pilot-friendly format. Since those data are
always current for centers and TRACONs, they certainly could be made
available in a current form for pilots, just like sectionals, IFR
charts, and electronic nav databases.


Sure they could but it's not in a useable format now. And ATC doesn't
need it in that format, only you do. Thus the high price.



MIAs and MVAs are, in fact IFR altitudes that avoid Part 95 rule-making
and real public scrutiny.


So what?