AIM 

4/20/23 

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

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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

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flight contingency use. 

2. 

Because of differences in the areas considered 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. 

f.  Circling. 

Circling minimums charted on an RNAV (GPS) approach chart may be lower than the 

LNAV/VNAV line of minima, but never lower than the LNAV line of minima (straight-in approach). Pilots may 

Arrival Procedures

5

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4

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