Definition
The lowest altitude prescribed for a holding pattern that ensures navigational signal coverage, communications, and obstacle clearance throughout the entire holding pattern airspace.
Plain English
The lowest altitude you are allowed to fly when circling in a published holding pattern. Below this altitude, you might lose radio reception, lose your navigation signal, or get too close to terrain or obstacles.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument procedure charts and in air traffic control clearances when an aircraft is instructed to hold at a specified place.
Why Pilots Care
Flying below this altitude can result in terrain or obstacle conflict during the hold.
Intuition Check
Minimum does not mean preferred or automatically best. Here it means the lowest allowed altitude for that holding pattern; a pilot may be assigned or choose a higher altitude when appropriate.
Example Sentence 1
ATC instructed us to hold east of the VOR at the MHA of 5,000 feet.
Example Sentence 2
Because we were in a mountainous area, the MHA was set at 9,000 feet to keep us above the ridges.