If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
ORCA lower than MEA?
There are some places on IFR enroute charts where the OROCA (Off-route
obstruction clearance altitude) is actually lower than MEAs on an airway in the same quadrant. The higher MEA is NOT due to obstacles in adjacent quadrants. If I'm on the airway, usually they don't let folks go down to the MOCA, however if I file direct off-airways, how likely am I to be able to get the ORCA? The goal is trying to stay below oxygen altitudes in mountainous terrain while remaining IFR. --Dan |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
ORCA lower than MEA?
MEA is established by VOR reception when distance or
obstacles require an altitude higher than terrain clearance only requires. You may or may not be given a clearance, if radar coverage is not available. Buy or rent some oxygen equipment. "Dan" wrote in message ups.com... | There are some places on IFR enroute charts where the OROCA (Off-route | obstruction clearance altitude) is actually lower than MEAs on an | airway in the same quadrant. The higher MEA is NOT due to obstacles in | adjacent quadrants. | | If I'm on the airway, usually they don't let folks go down to the MOCA, | however if I file direct off-airways, how likely am I to be able to get | the ORCA? The goal is trying to stay below oxygen altitudes in | mountainous terrain while remaining IFR. | | --Dan | |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
ORCA lower than MEA?
Dan wrote:
There are some places on IFR enroute charts where the OROCA (Off-route obstruction clearance altitude) is actually lower than MEAs on an airway in the same quadrant. The higher MEA is NOT due to obstacles in adjacent quadrants. If I'm on the airway, usually they don't let folks go down to the MOCA, however if I file direct off-airways, how likely am I to be able to get the ORCA? The goal is trying to stay below oxygen altitudes in mountainous terrain while remaining IFR. --Dan When you go off-route the center will use is minimum instrument altitude (MIA) chart. ATC will not use ORCAs; those are a concept that never went anywhere other than to provide you with some information for emergency or lost comm use. Also, you can run into issues if you try to go direct through one of those many chunks of Class G airspace in the western part of the country. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
ORCA lower than MEA?
Dan wrote:
There are some places on IFR enroute charts where the OROCA (Off-route obstruction clearance altitude) is actually lower than MEAs on an airway in the same quadrant. The higher MEA is NOT due to obstacles in adjacent quadrants. MEA's are often higher because of the signal issues of the NAVAIDS involved. We got an airway here with a 9000' MEA which is way higher than the obstructions and the MVA because there's something wonky with the VOR that defines it. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
ORCA lower than MEA?
I (and just about everyone else these days) is using an IFR certified
GPS unit, but I suppose we'll be stuck with the VOR technology limits until ATC moves into the 20th century.... --Dan Ron Natalie wrote: Dan wrote: There are some places on IFR enroute charts where the OROCA (Off-route obstruction clearance altitude) is actually lower than MEAs on an airway in the same quadrant. The higher MEA is NOT due to obstacles in adjacent quadrants. MEA's are often higher because of the signal issues of the NAVAIDS involved. We got an airway here with a 9000' MEA which is way higher than the obstructions and the MVA because there's something wonky with the VOR that defines it. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
ORCA lower than MEA?
I don't suppose this MIA information is avaliable or published
somewhere is it? It would be useful for flight planning. --Dan Sam Spade wrote: Dan wrote: There are some places on IFR enroute charts where the OROCA (Off-route obstruction clearance altitude) is actually lower than MEAs on an airway in the same quadrant. The higher MEA is NOT due to obstacles in adjacent quadrants. If I'm on the airway, usually they don't let folks go down to the MOCA, however if I file direct off-airways, how likely am I to be able to get the ORCA? The goal is trying to stay below oxygen altitudes in mountainous terrain while remaining IFR. --Dan When you go off-route the center will use is minimum instrument altitude (MIA) chart. ATC will not use ORCAs; those are a concept that never went anywhere other than to provide you with some information for emergency or lost comm use. Also, you can run into issues if you try to go direct through one of those many chunks of Class G airspace in the western part of the country. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
ORCA lower than MEA?
Dan wrote:
I (and just about everyone else these days) is using an IFR certified GPS unit, but I suppose we'll be stuck with the VOR technology limits until ATC moves into the 20th century.... No you're not. If you're in radar coverage you can go direct to the other end of the airway (or anywhere else) at any appropriate minimum IFR altitude. The MEA isn't limitting unless you are using VOR's to fly the Victor airway. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
ORCA lower than MEA?
Ron Natalie wrote:
Dan wrote: I (and just about everyone else these days) is using an IFR certified GPS unit, but I suppose we'll be stuck with the VOR technology limits until ATC moves into the 20th century.... No you're not. If you're in radar coverage you can go direct to the other end of the airway (or anywhere else) at any appropriate minimum IFR altitude. The MEA isn't limitting unless you are using VOR's to fly the Victor airway. Doesn't an MEA also guarantee communications reception unless an MRA indicates a higher altitude? Other altitudes (e.g., OROCA) don't guarantee radio reception. You can ask for MVA or MIA too, but those are uncharted. I've asked Flight Service for this info and they've provided it (after putting me on hold to check with Center). |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
ORCA lower than MEA?
rps wrote:
Doesn't an MEA also guarantee communications reception unless an MRA indicates a higher altitude? No. Com reception is not a factor in MEA determination. MRA has nothing to do with comm either. The MRA tells you that you can receive the nav signal that is used to define an intersection (from an off airway navaid). |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
ORCA lower than MEA?
Dan wrote:
I don't suppose this MIA information is avaliable or published somewhere is it? It would be useful for flight planning. No, they guard that stuff like it belongs only to them. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Aztec Lower Cowl Mod STC | Jim Burns | Owning | 3 | April 16th 06 03:21 PM |
Cherokee Strut Lower Strut Seal Replacement Report | Mike Spera | Owning | 3 | July 23rd 05 07:07 PM |
Orca Island, WA | Robert M. Gary | Piloting | 11 | June 5th 04 04:38 PM |
Flight planning at the lower flight levels | Peter R. | Piloting | 2 | March 16th 04 02:39 AM |
Question about Rear Admiral, lower half | Pechs1 | Naval Aviation | 28 | October 5th 03 11:24 PM |