Final answer:
MAA stands for Maximum Authorized Altitude, which is the highest altitude at which an aircraft is allowed to operate under IFR on certain routes. It is important for maintaining safe separation between aircraft and preventing collisions with obstacles.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of aviation regulations, MAA stands for Maximum Authorized Altitude. It refers to the highest altitude at which an aircraft is allowed to operate under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) on ATS (Air Traffic Service) routes or other direct routes for which a Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA) is designated.
The MAA is set to ensure safe separation between aircraft and to prevent collision with obstacles such as hills, mountains, or tall structures. It is important for pilots to abide by the MAA to maintain airspace safety.
For example, if the Maximum Authorized Altitude is set at 30,000 feet for a particular route, pilots flying on that route need to maintain an altitude below or equal to 30,000 feet to comply with the regulations.