FAA Instrument Rating Written Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA) is primarily established to ensure acceptable navigational signal coverage and to meet obstruction clearance requirements along an airway. This altitude guarantees that aircraft maintain a safe distance from obstacles, such as terrain and structures, as well as adequate signal reception from ground-based navigational aids, which is crucial for pilots flying in instrument meteorological conditions.

At the MEA, pilots can expect a minimum of 1,000 feet of vertical clearance from obstacles within 4 nautical miles of the centerline of the airway, which addresses the obstruction clearance aspect. Additionally, the MEA ensures that navigational signals are reliably available, allowing for safe and accurate navigation between points.

In terms of the other options, they might touch on related concepts but do not capture the essence of what MEA specifically intends to ensure. For instance, while option A mentions accurate navigational signals and DME mileage, it incorrectly includes the requirement for signals from more than one VORTAC. Obstacle clearance near an airway is relevant in option B, but it incorrectly limits the altitude's requirement to just that clearance metric. Option D introduces a safety consideration regarding weather conditions, which does not fall under the primary purpose of MEA. Hence, the selection of ME