Pilot complains that the MEA for an IFR airway was changed to a higher altitude.

Attributes
ACN	224059
Time
Date	199210
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : abe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dca
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zny
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	224059
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The flight departed hpn IFR to cgf. We requested 6000 ft as cruise altitude to avoid ice and headwinds. To go along with the east coast plan, we filed HPN9 SID to sax.etx.V30 cip.cxr.cgf. Clearance was HPN9SID sax.V249 sjb.V6.seg.V30, cip.csr.cgf. Mandatory assigned altitude of 8000. With trepidation, we departed. Although light ice was encountered on climb, we were largely on-top at 8000. Upon reaching abe on V6, we noted that the MEA between abe and seg is 13000 ft. Panic? Is there a newly installed mountain near lehighton, PA, that extends to 11000 requiring the MEA at 13000? Query ATC. Yes, indeed, MEA on V6 between abe and seg is 13000 ft because the mra of snowy intersection is 13000 ft! Since when does an mra determine MEA? If I experience communication failure, do I climb to 13000? Snowy intersection is defined by the crossing of V6 and V93. MEA on V93 is 4000 (as it should be). This is nuts. There should at least be an MOCA of 4000 on this airway. Full navigation is available on both airways. The MEA on V6 needs to be changed to 4000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT COMPLAINS THAT THE MEA FOR AN IFR AIRWAY WAS CHANGED TO A HIGHER ALT.

Narrative: THE FLT DEPARTED HPN IFR TO CGF. WE REQUESTED 6000 FT AS CRUISE ALT TO AVOID ICE AND HEADWINDS. TO GO ALONG WITH THE E COAST PLAN, WE FILED HPN9 SID TO SAX.ETX.V30 CIP.CXR.CGF. CLRNC WAS HPN9SID SAX.V249 SJB.V6.SEG.V30, CIP.CSR.CGF. MANDATORY ASSIGNED ALT OF 8000. WITH TREPIDATION, WE DEPARTED. ALTHOUGH LIGHT ICE WAS ENCOUNTERED ON CLB, WE WERE LARGELY ON-TOP AT 8000. UPON REACHING ABE ON V6, WE NOTED THAT THE MEA BTWN ABE AND SEG IS 13000 FT. PANIC? IS THERE A NEWLY INSTALLED MOUNTAIN NEAR LEHIGHTON, PA, THAT EXTENDS TO 11000 REQUIRING THE MEA AT 13000? QUERY ATC. YES, INDEED, MEA ON V6 BTWN ABE AND SEG IS 13000 FT BECAUSE THE MRA OF SNOWY INTXN IS 13000 FT! SINCE WHEN DOES AN MRA DETERMINE MEA? IF I EXPERIENCE COM FAILURE, DO I CLB TO 13000? SNOWY INTXN IS DEFINED BY THE XING OF V6 AND V93. MEA ON V93 IS 4000 (AS IT SHOULD BE). THIS IS NUTS. THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE AN MOCA OF 4000 ON THIS AIRWAY. FULL NAV IS AVAILABLE ON BOTH AIRWAYS. THE MEA ON V6 NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO 4000 FT.

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.