What is the primary purpose of the Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA)?

What is the primary purpose of the Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA)?

• A. To ensure weather avoidance
• B. To minimize fuel consumption
• C. To maximize airspace capacity
• D. To ensure terrain and obstruction clearance along with radio communications and VOR NAV aids

Answer: (D)

Minimum Enroute Altitude is the lowest altitude on an IFR enroute segment at which you are guaranteed obstacle clearance and reliable reception of the required navigation aids along that route. In practice, flying at or above the MEA ensures you won’t encounter terrain or obstructions and that the VOR/NAV signals needed to navigate the course are available throughout the segment. Weather avoidance, fuel optimization, and maximizing capacity are not what MEA defines, so those aspects aren’t addressed by this altitude.

Minimum Enroute Altitude is the lowest altitude on an IFR enroute segment at which you are guaranteed obstacle clearance and reliable reception of the required navigation aids along that route. In practice, flying at or above the MEA ensures you won’t encounter terrain or obstructions and that the VOR/NAV signals needed to navigate the course are available throughout the segment. Weather avoidance, fuel optimization, and maximizing capacity are not what MEA defines, so those aspects aren’t addressed by this altitude.