If the flight loses an engine over mountainous terrain, what altitude must it be able to maintain to have a safe alternate?

• A. 2000 ft above mountainous terrain
• B. 1000 ft above terrain
• C. 500 ft above sea level
• D. 4000 ft above terrain

Answer: (A)

When planning for an engine failure over mountains, you need a solid altitude cushion above the terrain to ensure you can safely reach an alternate airfield. In mountainous areas, the standard is to stay at least a buffer of about two thousand feet above the highest obstacle in the surrounding area. That margin provides room to glide, assess the situation, and maneuver toward a suitable alternate without risking collision with terrain.

So this choice is the best because it matches that required safety clearance above the mountains. The other options don’t provide the appropriate terrain-based margin: one doesn’t account for the elevation of mountains, another ignores terrain entirely by referencing sea level, and the last exceeds the minimum when planning for a safe alternate.