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 a relatively new (2012) chart notation, distinct from MEA/MCA/MRA, designed to protect faster aircraft from terrain during turn overshoots above 10,000 feet MSL.
Despite their purpose, MTAs are largely considered obsolete by modern RNAV/GPS systems that use turn anticipation, preventing overshoots by initiating turns before the fix.
Aviation regulations and protected airspace design for Victor airways have not fully adapted to RNAV turn anticipation, creating a lag between current technology/pilot practice and official guidance regarding turn entry and protected airspace.

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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.