[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 14, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR91.177]

[Page 529-530]
 
                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
 
CHAPTER I--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 91_GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES--Table of Contents
 
                         Subpart B_Flight Rules
 
Sec.  91.177  Minimum altitudes for IFR operations.

    (a) Operation of aircraft at minimum altitudes. Except when 
necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft 
under IFR below--
    (1) The applicable minimum altitudes prescribed in parts 95 and 97 
of this chapter; or
    (2) If no applicable minimum altitude is prescribed in those parts--
    (i) In the case of operations over an area designated as a 
mountainous area in part 95, an altitude of 2,000 feet above the highest 
obstacle within a horizontal distance of 4 nautical miles from the 
course to be flown; or

[[Page 530]]

    (ii) In any other case, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest 
obstacle within a horizontal distance of 4 nautical miles from the 
course to be flown.

However, if both a MEA and a MOCA are prescribed for a particular route 
or route segment, a person may operate an aircraft below the MEA down 
to, but not below, the MOCA, when within 22 nautical miles of the VOR 
concerned (based on the pilot's reasonable estimate of that distance).
    (b) Climb. Climb to a higher minimum IFR altitude shall begin 
immediately after passing the point beyond which that minimum altitude 
applies, except that when ground obstructions intervene, the point 
beyond which that higher minimum altitude applies shall be crossed at or 
above the applicable MCA.