Readback: January 2015

The last question on Octobers Killer Quiz asks at what altitude you must leave the MPV VOR. Youve departed on the ODP, which says to cross MPV at or above 3500 feet before proceeding on course. But, the scenario is that youre entering an ILS 17 feeder route from MPV, and that altitude is 5900 to the IAF at TJAYS. You said its required to cross MPV at 5900 (answer c). I disagree.

Editorial Staff

Monday, December 15, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Aviation procedures can present "legal" versus "safe" dilemmas, such as interpreting differing altitude requirements between an ODP and a published approach for the same fix, where the stricter approach altitude is often preferred for strict legality.
Aircraft reroutes in complex airspace, like around New York, are frequently dictated by Letters of Agreement between ATC facilities and an aircraft's equipment capabilities (e.g., RNAV suffix), rather than solely by filed flight plans.
Determining takeoff sequencing is typically a controller's judgment call, balancing factors such as a pilot's waiting time, the use of the active runway, and any special requests.

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How High Is Safe, Legal?
The last question on October’s Killer Quiz asks at what altitude you must leave the MPV VOR. You’ve departed on the ODP, which says to cross MPV at or above 3500 feet before proceeding on course. But, the scenario is that you’re entering an ILS 17 feeder route from MPV, and that altitude is 5900 to the IAF at TJAYS. You said it’s required to cross MPV at 5900 (answer c). I disagree. The ODP contains no course restrictions with that altitude. An aircraft may proceed direct anywhere after it has crossed the VOR at or above 3500 feet and should continue to climb as required. The correct answer (d) is to cross MPV at or above 3500 feet as specified by the ODP, and continue climbing to 5900 per the feeder route on the ILS. After all, if I weren’t flying the ILS, but simply filed MPV TJAYS and on, that’s what I’d do.

Daniel Herr
Murray Hill, NJ