Monroe ATCT must transition arrivals into terminal airspace prior to how many nautical miles east of MLU VORTAC?

The correct answer involves transitioning arrivals into terminal airspace at a specific distance to ensure safe and efficient aircraft operations. In this case, the standard is established at 17 nautical miles east of the MLU VORTAC. This distance is designed to provide adequate spacing and time for air traffic controllers to sequence arriving aircraft for a smooth entry into terminal airspace.

Air traffic management relies on these standards to maintain safety and efficiency, allowing controllers to manage multiple aircraft and their descent profiles effectively. The 17 nautical mile distance helps accommodate the varying speeds of different aircraft and ensures that they can be properly aligned with the approach procedures in use.

The other distances presented in the choices do not align with established ATC guidelines for this particular transition and can lead to congestion or inefficiencies in managing arrivals, which is why they are not correct for this specific question.