Instrument Rating Checkride Practice Test

Which altitude must be adhered to during a missed approach?

1. Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude (MOCA)

2. Minimum Crossing Altitude (MCA)

3. Minimum Reception Altitude (MRA)

4. Minimum Sector Altitude (MSA)

The correct answer is: Minimum Crossing Altitude (MCA)

The correct answer is Minimum Crossing Altitude (MCA). During a missed approach, pilots are required to adhere to the MCA to ensure safe obstacle clearance while maneuvering to the next waypoint on the missed approach procedure. The MCA is specifically established for each flight segment and is designed to provide vertical clearance over obstacles for that section of the procedure. The other options serve different purposes and are not specifically mandated for missed approach procedures. The Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude (MOCA) provides a minimum altitude for IFR operations in mountainous areas, ensuring safe clearance over obstacles but is not exclusively relevant to the missed approach segment. Minimum Reception Altitude (MRA) relates to the minimum altitude required to receive navigation signals from a specific facility and does not apply directly to the missed approach requirements. Lastly, Minimum Sector Altitude (MSA) is a lateral minimum altitude that provides safe clearance over obstacles within a specified sector on an approach chart, but it is not necessarily a requirement during every missed approach maneuver. Each of these altitudes has its own specific application within IFR operations, but the MCA is crucial for safe navigation during a missed approach.