Definition
The lowest altitude, expressed in feet above mean sea level (MSL), at which an air traffic controller may issue radar vectors to an aircraft, established to provide required obstacle clearance, adequate radar and communications coverage, and (in some cases) terrain separation within a defined area of controlled airspace.
Plain English
The lowest altitude a controller is allowed to send you to when giving you headings on radar. It is set so you stay safely above terrain and obstacles in that area, and so radar and radios still work properly.
Context Anchor
You encounter this term during instrument flying when ATC gives radar vectors, especially while guiding an aircraft toward the final approach course.
Derivation
‘Vectoring’ comes from Latin ‘vector,’ meaning ‘carrier’ or ‘one who conveys’ — in aviation it refers to ATC carrying an aircraft along a heading. ‘Minimum vectoring altitude’ is therefore the lowest altitude at which the controller can safely steer the aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
It guarantees obstacle and terrain clearance while the aircraft is being vectored.
Analogy
Think of it as the controller’s lowest safe “floor” for radar guidance in that area. ATC can keep you at or above that floor while turning you toward the approach.
Intuition Check
Do not read “minimum” as the lowest altitude a pilot may choose on their own. Here it means the lowest altitude ATC may assign while radar-vectoring an aircraft in that specific area.
Example Sentence 1
The controller kept us at 3,000 feet on the downwind because that was the minimum vectoring altitude for that sector.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot confirmed the current altitude was above the minimum vectoring altitude before accepting the next heading.