AIM
11/3/22
FIG 5
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4
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11
Minimum Vectoring Altitude Charts
N
013
348
057
289
277
1500
2000
3000
3000
3000
3500
2500
5000
5500
5
10
15
20
25
30
102
250
160
e. Minimum Vectoring Altitudes (MVAs)
are
established for use by ATC when radar ATC is
exercised. MVA charts are prepared by air traffic
facilities at locations where there are numerous
different minimum IFR altitudes. Each MVA chart
has sectors large enough to accommodate vectoring
of aircraft within the sector at the MVA. Each sector
boundary is at least 3 miles from the obstruction
determining the MVA. To avoid a large sector with an
excessively high MVA due to an isolated prominent
obstruction, the obstruction may be enclosed in a
buffer area whose boundaries are at least 3 miles from
the obstruction. This is done to facilitate vectoring
around the obstruction. (See FIG 5
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4
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11.)
1.
The minimum vectoring altitude in each
sector provides 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle
in nonmountainous areas and 2,000 feet above the
highest obstacle in designated mountainous areas.
Where lower MVAs are required in designated
mountainous areas to achieve compatibility with
terminal routes or to permit vectoring to an IAP, 1,000
feet of obstacle clearance may be authorized with the
use of ATC surveillance. The minimum vectoring
altitude will provide at least 300 feet above the floor
of controlled airspace.
NOTE
−
OROCA is a published altitude which provides 1,000 feet
of terrain and obstruction clearance in the U.S. (2,000 feet
of clearance in designated mountainous areas). These
altitudes are not assessed for NAVAID signal coverage, air
traffic control surveillance, or communications coverage,
and are published for general situational awareness, flight
planning and in
−
flight contingency use.
2.
Because of differences in the areas consid-
ered for MVA, and those applied to other minimum
altitudes, and the ability to isolate specific obstacles,
some MVAs may be lower than the nonradar
Minimum En Route Altitudes (MEAs), Minimum
Obstruction Clearance Altitudes (MOCAs) or other
minimum altitudes depicted on charts for a given
location. While being radar vectored, IFR altitude
assignments by ATC will be at or above MVA.
3.
The MVA/MIA may be lower than the TAA
minimum altitude. If ATC has assigned an altitude to
an aircraft that is below the TAA minimum altitude,
the aircraft will either be assigned an altitude to
maintain until established on a segment of a
published route or instrument approach procedure, or
climbed to the TAA altitude.
Arrival Procedures
5
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4
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18