By Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Beyond The MEA

Getting as low as possible while remaining IFR can mean a non-stop flight or getting in on a visual. Asking ATC often is the key.

On most of my cross-country flights, I usually climb to at least eight or 10,000 feet, sometimes higher. The reasons are many: The ride is smoother, fuel consumption is lower, true airspeed is higher, there’s less traffic, fewer frequency changes, a tailwind’s effects are more pronounced and there’s more time to find a runway if “something happens.” But I’m not the least bit averse to flying long flights within a couple thousand feet of terrain if conditions warrant. Here’s the hard part: Getting and staying low when operating on an IFR clearance often is incompatible with what ATC wants. Many instrument-rated pilots are convinced they have little choice in the matter, but we do have some options for getting and staying low. Using one depends on where you are and where you’re going. You don’t always have to remain at or above the MEA.