What is the purpose of OROCA?

The purpose of OROCA, or Off-Route Obstruction Clearance Altitude, is to ensure obstruction clearance for aircraft flying off established routes in areas where specific navigational guidance may not be available. It provides pilots with a predetermined altitude that guarantees safe vertical separation from obstacles in the vicinity, such as mountains, towers, or other structures that could pose a risk to flight safety.

OROCA values are calculated based on the highest obstructions within a specified area and provide a margin of safety, thus allowing pilots to operate with confidence even outside of designated airways. This is particularly important in remote or less-developed regions where terrain may be unpredictable and where established air traffic control routing does not provide the same level of safety assurances as when flying along defined routes.

While other options mention visual flight rules, traffic separation, and navigation signal reception, they do not directly address the primary function of OROCA, which specifically focuses on ensuring that aircraft maintain safe clearance from obstructions when operating outside of designated airspace routes.