What information does the MOCA provide during flight?

The Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude (MOCA) provides critical safety information for pilots during flight, specifically concerning minimum obstacle clearance and navigation signal coverage. The MOCA is determined to ensure that an aircraft maintains a safe vertical distance from obstacles such as terrain and structures, thus preventing potential collisions.

In addition to ensuring that the aircraft is clear of obstacles, the MOCA also guarantees that the pilot will receive acceptable navigation signal coverage from the ground-based navigation aids for the route being flown. This dual purpose makes the MOCA an essential parameter for ensuring safety when flying at lower altitudes in areas where terrain may pose a risk.

Other options do not provide the same comprehensive safety assurances as the MOCA. While minimum airspeed requirements and maximum altitude limits are important to consider in flight planning and operations, they do not specifically relate to obstacle clearance or the availability of navigation signals. Furthermore, navigation signal quality alone does not encompass the full scope of safety associated with flying in proximity to obstacles; it is linked to navigation but does not address obstacle clearance in the same way that MOCA does.