What is the proper flight level?

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What is the proper flight level?

Postby AS 2 Tom Little » 25 Nov 2005 04:30

Thanks to Bryan Dean, Jonathon Barton and Kevin Cranford for this info:

TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE

CHAPTER I--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
(CONTINUED)

PART 91--GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES--Table of Contents

Subpart B--Flight Rules

Sec. 91.179 IFR cruising altitude or flight level.

(a) In controlled airspace. Each person operating an aircraft under
IFR in level cruising flight in controlled airspace shall maintain the
altitude or flight level *** that aircraft by ATC. However, if the ATC clearance *** ``VFR conditions on-top,'' that person shall
maintain an altitude or flight level as prescribed by Sec. 91.159.

(b) In uncontrolled airspace. Except while in a holding pattern of 2 minutes or less or while turning, each person operating an aircraft
under IFR in level cruising flight in uncontrolled airspace shall
maintain an appropriate altitude as follows:
(1) When operating below 18,000 feet MSL and--
(i) On a magnetic course of zero degrees through 179 degrees, any
odd thousand foot MSL altitude (such as 3,000, 5,000, or 7,000); or
(ii) On a magnetic course of 180 degrees through 359 degrees, any
even thousand foot MSL altitude (such as 2,000, 4,000, or 6,000).
(2) When operating at or above 18,000 feet MSL but below flight
level 290, and--
(i) On a magnetic course of zero degrees through 179 degrees, any
odd flight level (such as 190, 210, or 230); or
(ii) On a magnetic course of 180 degrees through 359 degrees, any
even flight level (such as 180, 200, or 220).
(3) When operating at flight level 290 and above, and--
(i) On a magnetic course of zero degrees through 179 degrees, any
flight level, at 4,000-foot intervals, beginning at and including flight level 290 (such as flight level 290, 330, or 370); or
(ii) On a magnetic course of 180 degrees through 359 degrees, any
flight level, at 4,000-foot intervals, beginning at and including flight level 310 (such as flight level 310, 350, or 390).

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My mnemonic (thing to remember something by) is

NEODD/SWEVEN (Pronounced Any Odd/Sweeven)

Going North (001) or East (091), fly odd. Going South (181) or West (271), fly even. Flying VFR?? Add 500'.

Even works above FL290...but it's not as easy...you have to remember to alternate directions and flight levels

NEODD = 290, 330, 370, 410
SWEVEN = 310, 350, 390, 430.

That is until next year, when the reduced vertical separation rules that Europe has in place will take effect in North America, too.

----------------------------------------------------------

Easy way to remember NEodd 0* - 179*(North and East odd altitudes). SWeven 180* - 359*(South and West) even altitudes. Learned from my father who flew B-17`s with the Mighty 8th during WWII.

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Remember that RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums) is in effect now in North America, and if you fly on VATSIM, they're using it there as well. The NEODD/SWEVEN rule holds true all the way up to FL410, whereas it used to be odd FLs only above FL290.

Old way:
000-179 degrees: FL190, FL210, FL230, FL250, FL270, FL290, FL330, FL370, FL410
180-359 degrees: FL200, FL220, FL240, FL260, FL280, FL310, FL350, FL390

New way:
000-179 degrees: FL190, FL210, FL230, FL250, FL270, FL290, FL310, FL330, FL350, FL370, FL390, FL410
180-359 degrees: FL200, FL220, FL240, FL260, FL280, FL300, FL320, FL340, FL360, FL380, FL400

I *think* that the 2000-foot rule is still in effect above FL410, for you folks that fly Citation Xs and Gulfstreams and the like.

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AS 2 Tom Little
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