SR20
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 9.0
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airspace Structure
Aircraft X was filed ZZZ to ZZZ1 via direct ZZZ2. Aircraft X departed ZZZ; overflew ZZZ3 and was headed direct ZZZ2. Approx 5 miles south of ZZZ3 Aircraft X asked for a vector for terrain avoidance. Aircraft X was below 8;000 feet in an 110 MEA (Minimum Enroute Altitude) area and was asked if he could do the departure procedure. When he didn't respond I tried another transmitter and advised him that I was legally unable to vector him at that altitude and suggested a west heading if able. He then requested direct to a fix and was told departure procedure his discretion; cleared direct destination leaving 11;000 feet. Remind pilots to familiarize themselves with terrain and departure procedures before departing IFR at an unfamiliar airport.
A Center Controller reported an IFR departure did not use the published departure procedure and was below the Minimum Enroute Altitude.