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Quiz: What Altitude Are You Cleared To?

Boldmethod

Do you know what you're supposed to climb to?


  1. 1) On the Canoga One departure, what does the 1700' altitude by the blue arrow mean?
    Boldmethod

    That's right, this is a maximum altitude. If you're flying the Canoga One departure, you can't go higher than 1700' until you've crossed 2.2 DME south of VNY.

    This is a maximum altitude. If you're flying the Canoga One departure, you can't go higher than 1700' until you've crossed 2.2 DME south of VNY.

  2. 2) You're on the ground in Salt Lake City and clearance delivery tells you: "cleared to KSFO via the Salt Lake Three departure, then as filed. Climb via the Salt Lake Three departure, departure frequency 124.3, squawk 5116". Your filed altitude is 14,000 feet MSL. How high can you climb until you're instructed further?
    View Salt Lake Three Departure (Page 1)
    View Salt Lake Three Departure (Page 2)

    That's right, the SLC3 departure has a top altitude of 10,000'. Since you were instructed to "climb via the SLC3 departure", you can't go higher than 10,000 until instructed by ATC.

    The SLC3 departure has a top altitude of 10,000'. Since you were instructed to "climb via the SLC3 departure", you can't go higher than 10,000 until instructed by ATC.

  3. 3) You're taking off from Grand Junction, CO with this clearance: "cleared to KPUC via V134, climb maintain 14,000', expect 16,000' 10 minutes after departure." You filed 18,000'. The MEA is 11,900'. 15 minutes after departure you haven't been able to contact anyone on your radios. You're in IMC. What altitude should you maintain?
    Boldmethod

    That's right, in lost comm situations you should maintain the highest of your assigned altitude, expected altitude or the MEA. In this case, the highest altitude was 16,000, expected 10 minutes after departure.

    In lost comm situations you should maintain the highest of your assigned altitude, expected altitude or the MEA. In this case, the highest altitude was 16,000, expected 10 minutes after departure.

  4. 4) When will the minimum obstruction clearance altitude also guarantee NAVAID reception?

    Yep, when you're within 22NM, a MOCA will guarantee you NAVAID reception as well.

    When you're within 22NM, a MOCA will guarantee you NAVAID reception as well.

  5. 5) What does "10000G" mean on V328?
    Boldmethod

    That's right, blue altitudes followed by a "G" are RNAV minimum enroute altitudes. 

    Blue altitudes followed by a "G" are RNAV minimum enroute altitudes. 

  6. 6) You're on V83 southbound enroute to Santa Fe, NM. You're 7 miles north of POAKE, it's early morning, and the Santa Fe tower isn't open yet. Albuquerque Center clears you for the approach into Santa Fe. You choose to fly the RNAV RWY 20 approach, which has an IAF of POAKE. You're at 16,000' in IMC picking up light rime ice. The MEA for your current position is 11,000'. When can you descend?
    View Enroute Chart
    View RNAV 20 Approach Chart

    Since you're established on the airway and cleared for the approach, you can immediately start a descent to the MEA of 11,000' feet. 11,000' is the lowest you can go until you cross POAKE. From that point, you've crossed the IAF, and you can start a descent to 8,500'. Also, as it's noted on the chart, there is no procedure turn required if you arrive on V83 southbound, which you are.

    Since you're established on the airway and cleared for the approach, you can immediately start a descent to the MEA of 11,000' feet. 11,000' is the lowest you can go until you cross POAKE. From that point, you've crossed the IAF, and you can start a descent to 8,500'. Also, as it's noted on the chart, there is no procedure turn required if you arrive on V83 southbound, which you are.

Well, that was a tough flight...

You scored % But if you look at the bright side, you learned quite a bit.

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ATC isn't completely happy with you, but you made it through the flight.

You scored %. Nice work.

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Nice work, you nailed your altitudes...

You scored % Well done.

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Colin Cutler

Colin Cutler

Colin is a Boldmethod co-founder and lifelong pilot. He's been a flight instructor at the University of North Dakota, an airline pilot on the CRJ-200, and has directed the development of numerous commercial and military training systems. You can reach him at colin@boldmethod.com.

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