B: Re: Clearance to MOCA

[Jim_SB]

> There is no airspace that any US controller works that doesn't have an 
> MVA/MIA.  No radar controller can operate without one.
>
> Scott

Hi Scott,

No offense to ATC (which does a great job), but I personally am not 
comfortable trusting altitudes that I cannot verify from my charts. That is 
one reason why I carry both IFR and VFR charts for each flight. Back in the 
80's when I was getting my instrument rating ATC vectored a small airplane 
East from Burbank at 5000' in the clag right into the side of a very large 
mountain. They found the wreckage right where the PIC was told to be. I'm 
still cantankerous when ATC sends me East from Van Nuys VOR off airway at 
5000'. <ng> I call them once every minute or 2 until they get me back on 
airway. When they tell me "not to worry I have adequate terrain clearance" I 
politely reply that I have no way to verify that.

On that same flight I mentioned in an earlier post to Oakland when we got up 
near Hollister Norcal Approach instructed us to descend and maintain 6500'.

Again this brought concern to my Wife as she could see dark blobs 
(mountains) getting closer to our Bonanza. Again I showed her with my VFR 
charts why we were okay at that altitude - which again was below the CNX 
80's MSA and the OROCA shown on the charts.

She still grumbled a bit. Altitude is her friend.

<g>

Jim in Santa Barbara