In aviation, a minimum crossing altitude, or MCA, is the lowest altitude at which a navigational fix can be crossed when entering or continuing along an airway that will allow an aircraft to clear all obstacles while carrying out a normal climb to the required minimum en route IFR altitude (MEA) of the airway in question beyond the fix.
The definition given here concerns primarily United States airspace; procedures and practices may vary in other countries.
Read more about Minimum Crossing Altitude: Overview
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