At what altitude is a Whiskey arrival flown?

At what altitude is a Whiskey arrival flown?

• A. 700' MSL
• B. 500' MSL
• C. 900' MSL
• D. 1000' MSL

Answer: (A)

A Whiskey arrival defines a published transition into the instrument approach with a specific altitude to maintain on that transition. In this case, you’re expected to fly the Whiskey arrival at 700 feet MSL. That altitude is chosen to provide obstacle clearance and proper sequencing as you move from the en route/transition phase into the published approach, after which you descend along the approach profile. Staying at 700 feet MSL during the Whiskey transition keeps you high enough to clear terrain and obstacles while still positioning you correctly for the subsequent descent on the approach. Descents to lower altitudes happen as published on the approach you’ll fly next. The other altitude options don’t match the published transition and would either keep you too high or too low for safe, orderly integration into the approach. Remember, unless specified otherwise, altitudes on instrument procedures are given as MSL.

A Whiskey arrival defines a published transition into the instrument approach with a specific altitude to maintain on that transition. In this case, you’re expected to fly the Whiskey arrival at 700 feet MSL. That altitude is chosen to provide obstacle clearance and proper sequencing as you move from the en route/transition phase into the published approach, after which you descend along the approach profile.

Staying at 700 feet MSL during the Whiskey transition keeps you high enough to clear terrain and obstacles while still positioning you correctly for the subsequent descent on the approach. Descents to lower altitudes happen as published on the approach you’ll fly next. The other altitude options don’t match the published transition and would either keep you too high or too low for safe, orderly integration into the approach. Remember, unless specified otherwise, altitudes on instrument procedures are given as MSL.