Charting on the MTA

I loved The MTA Song as a kid. You know it: Charlie gets caught a nickel short and left to ride the rails of the Boston subway forever because the fare went up during his morning commute. I loved its joyful ridiculousness, and I loved that my dad would belt it out for us on his old Martin. (He was a beatnik-a hippy before it was cool.) Charlies wife handing him a sandwich always bugged me though. Why didnt she just hand him a nickel so he could get off the train?

jwanwest

Friday, May 05, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Minimum Turning Altitudes (MTAs) are obscure navigation restrictions, introduced in 2012, designed to ensure faster aircraft remain within protected airspace during turns, particularly above 10,000 feet MSL and near terrain.
MTAs aim to prevent overshoots, but are largely deemed obsolete by modern RNAV/GPS systems that use turn anticipation, which negates the need for traditional overshoot protection.
Current FAA guidance and charting standards for Victor airways lag behind modern RNAV capabilities, creating ambiguities where published rules (like MTAs or turn angle limits) do not fully align with how pilots actually navigate.
This discrepancy highlights the pilot's responsibility to understand both outdated regulations and actual terrain, as official guidance struggles to keep pace with technological advancements in navigation.

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I loved “The MTA Song” as a kid. You know it: Charlie gets caught a nickel short and left to ride the rails of the Boston subway forever because the fare went up during his morning commute. I loved its joyful ridiculousness, and I loved that my dad would belt it out for us on his old Martin. (He was a beatnik—a hippy before it was cool.) Charlie’s wife handing him a sandwich always bugged me though. Why didn’t she just hand him a nickel so he could get off the train?

Now I’m older and married, and I understand she might have had a reason.