Narrative:

This is a general description of a problem with pubs. No particular incident occurred -- although there is a possibility that one could occur. The highest altitude depicted for any MOA on the published charts (hi, lo, RNAV) is FL180. As a former navy pilot and user of MOA's I know that higher altitudes are routinely used (FL240). I routinely file RNAV direct and always check the maximum altitude of any MOA's I cross. All say FL180 or lower, yet on frequent occasions I have been vectored around these MOA's at FL250 and higher. Chart manufacturer says they just report what the FAA publishes. Recommendation: if the user of the MOA routinely uses altitudes higher than FL180 then the official description of the MOA should reflect that higher altitude. While it is true that the area above FL180 is class a airspace and all aircraft will be under IFR, it would prevent surprises and unexpected vectors to have the actual maximum altitude published on the charts.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PUB DEFICIENCY CITED BY RPTR THAT MAKES HIS PLT FLC PLANNING INFLT LESS PREDICTABLE.

Narrative: THIS IS A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF A PROB WITH PUBS. NO PARTICULAR INCIDENT OCCURRED -- ALTHOUGH THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT ONE COULD OCCUR. THE HIGHEST ALT DEPICTED FOR ANY MOA ON THE PUBLISHED CHARTS (HI, LO, RNAV) IS FL180. AS A FORMER NAVY PLT AND USER OF MOA'S I KNOW THAT HIGHER ALTS ARE ROUTINELY USED (FL240). I ROUTINELY FILE RNAV DIRECT AND ALWAYS CHK THE MAX ALT OF ANY MOA'S I CROSS. ALL SAY FL180 OR LOWER, YET ON FREQUENT OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN VECTORED AROUND THESE MOA'S AT FL250 AND HIGHER. CHART MANUFACTURER SAYS THEY JUST RPT WHAT THE FAA PUBLISHES. RECOMMENDATION: IF THE USER OF THE MOA ROUTINELY USES ALTS HIGHER THAN FL180 THEN THE OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION OF THE MOA SHOULD REFLECT THAT HIGHER ALT. WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT THE AREA ABOVE FL180 IS CLASS A AIRSPACE AND ALL ACFT WILL BE UNDER IFR, IT WOULD PREVENT SURPRISES AND UNEXPECTED VECTORS TO HAVE THE ACTUAL MAX ALT PUBLISHED ON THE CHARTS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.