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Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | Airline Operations | Explain MSA

DVA3037
Captain, B757-200

Joined on April 08 2006
Century Club
Online Century Club

"I'd rather be flyin'!"
Orange Park, FL USA

189 legs, 451.8 hours
168 legs, 399.4 hours online
49 legs, 131.1 hours ACARS
51 legs, 141.1 hours event

Posted onPost created on April 26 2006 19:22 ET by Timothy Arvin

Can someone please explain MSA to me for diffrent safe altitudes, for instance a pie chart msa with diffrent MSA for the feild?

Thank you

Timothy Arvin

Captain, B757-200

DVA043
Senior Captain, MD-11
OLP

Joined on June 10 2001
Event Half Century Club
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"Col. Panic"
Marietta, GA

2,347 legs, 9,466.0 hours
240 legs, 553.9 hours online
2,005 legs, 8,259.1 hours ACARS
75 legs, 196.3 hours event
2,383 legs, 9,600.9 hours total
91 legs dispatched, 66.4 hours

Posted onPost created on April 26 2006 19:27 ET by Luke Kolin

Have you looked at the Flight Encyclopedia? There's an excellent section on Approach Charts there.

Cheers!

Luke Kolin

Senior Captain, MD-11

Posted onPost created on April 26 2006 19:28 ET by Timothy Arvin

Yes but it doesnt actually explain multiple MSA for the same feild....thanks!

Timothy Arvin

Captain, B757-200

DVA1528
Captain, B757-200

Joined on February 16 2004

Midwestern United States

43 legs, 103.7 hours
39 legs, 92.1 hours online

Posted onPost created on April 26 2006 21:36 ET by Raymond Lancaster

If I understand your question correctly you are talking about the MSA circle on an approach chart. As an example the ILS approach for RWY 20L at KPDK, Atlanta/Dekalb - Peachtree, There is a circle with a VOR in the middle. At the top of the circle it says:"MSA PDK 25 NM" This means that the MSA/s listed in the circle are for an area 25 nm in diameter from the PDK VOR. Inside of the circle there is an arrow pointing east labeled 90 degrees, and another pointing west reading 270 degrees. Above these two arrows it says 3700, and below it says 3100. What this all means is that if you are on a radial between 90 and 270 degrees, such as 70 degrees, radial for the PDK VOR and you are within 25 nm the MSA is 3700 ft, and a 100 degree radial has a MSA of 3100 feet.

If there is only one number in the circle then the MSA is that number for the Diameter from the nav fix listed in text at the top of the circle.

Just to be sure MSA stands for Minimum Safe Altitude. That means there is an obstruction or terrain that requires you to remain at the MSA or higher altitude. The only time you would decend below MSA for an area in the circle is when you are on the approach couse and the glide path or decent profile allows.

Posted onPost created on April 27 2006 18:51 ET by Timothy Arvin

Thanks for the responce, it hepled considerably!

Timothy Arvin

Captain, B757-200

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