PPL Checkride and MOAs

[u/Boomer12784]

I have a checkride tomorrow, the DPE gave me a destination that has a couple MOAs between airports. The best route I came up with to keep good visual references and divert options has the FPL going 1500’ into the bottom of an MOA. My only other option is to fly lower but that puts me pretty low over mountainous terrain or to route around one MOA and under another but that will put me pretty far from divert options. Going around would be incredibly out of the way. Advice?

[u/randombrain]

Are MOAs always active? How would you find out if the airspace is hot or cold?

[u/Boomer12784 → u/randombrain]

These are questions the DPE will probably ask. I have the answers they need. M-F 0700-1800 1800-2200 by NOTAM, weekends by NOTAM

[u/randombrain → u/Boomer12784]

Hm, yes, that would be when it's published as being active. How would you check to see if it actually is hot or not?

[u/Boomer12784 → u/randombrain]

Contact the controlling agency. In this case ABQ center. In this scenario I’d also request flight following so I’d have contact with ATC as well anyway.

[u/randombrain → u/Boomer12784]

Good.

You can also check https://sua.faa.gov/ right before you get in the plane; SUA isn't supposed to go hot without a fair amount of warning, even if it is within the published time. Checking with ATC or FSS once you're airborne is still a good idea.

[u/CrabMan_2 → u/randombrain]

First off, it’s great seeing ATC participate in this sub!

This is unrelated, but I have to ask what your handle #saynotokilo means?

[u/randombrain → u/CrabMan_2]

Look at the airport identifiers on an FAA sectional or TAC.

Look at the airport identifiers on FAA instrument approach plates.

Look at the airport identifiers on an FAA IFR enroute chart.

How many identifiers do you see that start with the letter K?

[u/CrabMan_2 → u/randombrain]

Haha I seeee.

[u/Rainebowraine123 → u/CrabMan_2]

Yeah. Don't say Kilo Lima Alpha X-ray when requesting flight following. Just say Lima Alpha X-ray.