Originally Posted by
Capn Bloggs
I hope the fact you've mentioned/shown this doesn't embolden others to start their own terrain avoidance procedures...
That's different: the ATC is actively controlling you. It's his job to keep you clear of terrain.
Is it!
You request to do an orbit and you're under a RADAR service, ATC is monitoring you, you make a request and they either approve it or deny it. That aside, the chart shows the highest terrain so the numbers given seem sensible. There will not be a sector on that chart with a minimum altitude, not giving you the required terrain buffer (assuming no errors in the planning stage).
So if ATC ever tells you 'Radar Control', who is responsible for terrain clearance?
You are. That is why they provide you these charts to cross-reference their clearance (except in Milan because... Italy). How an earth could you ever avoid weather at night whilst making an approach (even to Amsterdam) if you had no choice but to stay above Minimum Sector Altitude (read
Sector, NOT
Safe)?
Would you disagree that staying above the minimum radar altitudes in that chart would give you the required 1000ft terrain clearance?
Bearing in mind a rate 1 orbit at 180kts should give you a turn diameter of about 2NM, if you had request one in any position under 'Positive Radar Control' (meaning you've been positively identified by ATC), they will
(should) not allow you to maneuverer in a manner that would compromise safety by encroaching on the 1000ft terrain margin. Therefore, radar minimum sectors are defined with this in mind. Whenever you're inside a given sector of the MRC, any instruction/approved request should give you the legally required terrain avoidance - subject to your cross check of the relevant chart (in this case, your minimum radar chart).