corporate-pilot An IFR flight in the EU may descend below the en-route lowest safe altitude when:
- within 25 miles, and descending to a published MSA
- Operating under the VFR
- conducting an Instrument approach
- under Radar vectors, and above the minimum vectoring altitude
- established in a published holding procedure, and above the minimum altitude for holding.
... I mean, when you get a vector from ATC, you don't say "
Hang on a minute, while I plot that on a terrain chart and make sure I have terrain separation.", do you?
Not saying you shouldn't remain situationally aware (esp in the second and third worlds!)
and, in addition:
Originally Posted by ICAO. PANS-ATM 8.6.5.2
When vectoring an IFR flight and when giving an IFR flight a direct routing which takes an aircraft off an ATS route, the controller shall issue clearances such that the prescribed obstacle clearance will exist at all times until the aircraft reaches the point where the pilot will resume own navigation.
(emphasis mine)