What obstacle clearance do Emergency Safe Altitudes (ESA) provide?

What obstacle clearance do Emergency Safe Altitudes (ESA) provide?

• A. 1,000' clearance within 10 NM
• B. 500' clearance within 25 NM
• C. 1,000' clearance (2,000' mountainous) within 100 NM
• D. 2,000' clearance within 50 NM

Answer: (C)

Emergency Safe Altitudes (ESA) are designed to ensure a safe buffer above the highest terrain and obstacles in the vicinity of an aircraft, enhancing safety during emergency situations. Specifically, ESA provides a minimum clearance of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a 100 nautical mile radius, ensuring that pilots have sufficient altitude to avoid terrain and obstacles when navigating under less-than-ideal flight conditions. In mountainous terrain, this clearance is increased to 2,000 feet to account for higher elevations and ensure an added margin of safety. This altitude rule is crucial for pilots to have a reliable reference for emergency landings or other maneuvers while maintaining safety across varying geographical landscapes. Other options do not reflect the established standards for ESA clearance, which requires a broader distance and altitude for increased safety, especially in mountainous regions.

Emergency Safe Altitudes (ESA) are designed to ensure a safe buffer above the highest terrain and obstacles in the vicinity of an aircraft, enhancing safety during emergency situations. Specifically, ESA provides a minimum clearance of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a 100 nautical mile radius, ensuring that pilots have sufficient altitude to avoid terrain and obstacles when navigating under less-than-ideal flight conditions. In mountainous terrain, this clearance is increased to 2,000 feet to account for higher elevations and ensure an added margin of safety. This altitude rule is crucial for pilots to have a reliable reference for emergency landings or other maneuvers while maintaining safety across varying geographical landscapes.

Other options do not reflect the established standards for ESA clearance, which requires a broader distance and altitude for increased safety, especially in mountainous regions.