For mountainous terrain, what is the minimum altitude?

For mountainous terrain, what is the minimum altitude?

• A. 1000 feet
• B. 3000 feet
• C. 2000 feet
• D. 1500 feet

Answer: (C)

In mountainous terrain, a safe clearance above the surrounding ground is essential to avoid terrain and obstacles. The standard guideline is to maintain at least 2,000 feet above the highest terrain within the area (typically within about 10 miles of your position). This extra margin accounts for maneuvering room, potential weather effects, and any navigation or positional errors, providing a reliable buffer in rugged terrain. Lower values wouldn’t give enough clearance, while a much higher value isn’t usually necessary in typical practice, so 2,000 feet is the appropriate minimum.

In mountainous terrain, a safe clearance above the surrounding ground is essential to avoid terrain and obstacles. The standard guideline is to maintain at least 2,000 feet above the highest terrain within the area (typically within about 10 miles of your position). This extra margin accounts for maneuvering room, potential weather effects, and any navigation or positional errors, providing a reliable buffer in rugged terrain. Lower values wouldn’t give enough clearance, while a much higher value isn’t usually necessary in typical practice, so 2,000 feet is the appropriate minimum.