What altitude should be maintained to comply with the MEA when flying off-airway?

To comply with the Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA) when flying off-airway, maintaining at least the MEA is necessary. The MEA ensures that aircraft can safely clear terrain and obstacles while providing adequate navigation signal coverage. It also guarantees a certain level of safety and reliability for aircraft operating in a given airspace.

Flying at or above the MEA will guarantee that you are within the required altitude, which mitigates the risk of inadvertently encountering obstacles or other terrain that could lead to potential hazards. When navigating off-airway, achieving the MEA means that the aircraft remains compliant with the required operational altitudes as specified for safe enroute navigation.

In contrast, the other options reference different kinds of altitudes that may not adequately ensure obstacle clearance or necessary navigation safety when flying off-airway. The Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude (MOCA), Minimum Reception Altitude (MRA), and Maximum Authorized Altitude (MAA) serve different purposes and may not provide the same level of terrain clearance or signal reception that the MEA guarantees. Thus, to ensure adherence to safety regulations while flying off-airway, maintaining at least the MEA is essential.