What altitudes should you fly above 3000 feet AGL?

One of the fundamental rules governing the operation of aircraft in flight is the "see-and-avoid" rule of FAR 91.113(b).

As a pilot, you are required to know and abide by the General Operating and Flight Rules of Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). One of the fundamental rules governing the operation of aircraft in flight is the "see-and-avoid" rule of FAR 91.113(b), which places the responsibility on pilots to spot traffic and to avoid it. But that rule does not work alone. Other FARs work with the see-and-avoid rule to make it easier for you to avoid a collision.

One of those helpful operating rules sets acceptable VFR cruising altitudes, which allows you to generally anticipate where other aircraft may be in the sky and provides some measure of separation for aircraft traveling in different directions.

The rule, which is found in FAR 91.159, tells you at what altitudes you should fly, depending upon your direction of travel. As it relates to our discussion, the rule states that "each person operating an aircraft under VFR in level cruising flight more than 3,000 feet above the surface shall maintain the appropriate altitude or flight level prescribed below, unless otherwise authorized by air traffic control:

When operating below 18,000 feet msl and-

(1) On a magnetic course of zero degrees through 179 degrees, any odd thousand foot msl altitude plus 500 feet (such as 3,500, 5,500, or 7,500); or

(2) On a magnetic course of 180 degrees through 359 degrees, any even thousand foot msl altitude plus 500 feet (such as 4,500, 6,500, or 8,500)."

One way to paraphrase this rule is to say that when the ground track of the VFR pilot's aircraft is in an easterly direction (ground track equates to course, as opposed to heading, which may contain an easterly or westerly correction for wind drift), that aircraft should be at an odd altitude plus 500 feet, e.g., 3,500 feet. When the ground track of the VFR pilot's aircraft is in a westerly direction, the aircraft should be at an even altitude plus 500 feet, e.g., 4,500 feet. When I'm flying, the way that I remember this is that east is odd, but west is so much odder as to be even, and then add 500 feet.

There are a few things worth emphasizing about this rule. First, you only need to comply with the VFR cruising altitudes if you are flying more than 3,000 feet above ground level (agl). Below 3,000 feet agl, you are not required to follow the altitude rule (although it's a good idea) and neither are other aircraft. That means other aircraft could be flying at any altitude that could potentially conflict with your flight path.

Second, to determine that you are at the correct VFR cruising altitude, you need to have your altimeter set correctly. FAR 91.121 states that your altimeter must be set to the current reported altimeter setting of a station along the route and within 100 nautical miles of your aircraft, or if there is no station within this area, the current reported altimeter setting of an appropriate available station.

Third, this rule requires VFR traffic to operate at even or odd altitudes plus 500 feet, while IFR traffic is generally assigned to fly the cardinal altitudes, e.g., 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, and so on. Therefore, you shouldn't count on there being a 1,000-foot safety separation between aircraft because that safety margin may be, at most, 500 feet. And, traffic could be climbing or descending and, therefore crossing through your altitude.

The rule makes sense. It provides that traffic operating above 3,000 feet agl and traveling in opposing directions should be separated by at least 500 feet of airspace. When you're flying at the appropriate VFR altitude, any opposing VFR or IFR traffic should be above or below your altitude or crossing through your altitude, but should not be cruising at your altitude. However, an aircraft flying on a course of 359 degrees, and one flying on a course of 181 degrees, would each properly be at an even altitude plus 500 feet-in other words, on a potential collision course, even though they are flying in nearly opposite directions.

Although these rules work together to help keep aircraft safely separated, they do not relieve you of your responsibility to maintain a proper scan outside your aircraft in order to see and avoid any traffic. As many a pilot will tell you, there is no knowing where an aircraft could show up, so it's vital that you take your instructor's advice and "keep your head on a swivel."

Discussion in 'Pilot Training' started by cowman, Oct 25, 2013.

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The altitudes of aircraft over your area can vary according to:

• the airport the flight is coming from or going to
• whether the aircraft is coming in to land, taking off or in level flight
• the specific requirements of the flight path
• the need for air traffic control to maintain vertical separation between aircraft.

There are no regulations setting out minimum altitudes for aircraft in the course of taking off or landing at an airport.

Variation in departure altitudes

You may observe differences in the altitudes of departing aircraft. Aircraft have different climbing abilities depending on factors such as the type of aircraft and its weight, how heavily laden it is, and even the meteorological conditions at the time.

Large jets such as Airbus A380s will climb more slowly than smaller, lighter aircraft because they are so much heavier. A380s are frequently used for long-haul non-stop flights and in these circumstances will be fully laden with fuel. This adds to the weight and further compromises climb performance. When two aircraft of the same type are observed to have different climb rates this is usually because one is heading for a closer destination than the other, and is therefore carrying less fuel weight.

Atmospheric conditions can affect climb rates. For example, when it is hot and humid the air is less dense. This affects the “lift” of an aircraft and it will take longer to climb in these conditions.

Minimum altitude for level flight

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority have regulations for how low aircraft can fly. These regulations require pilots fly no lower than 1,000 feet (ft) over built-up areas, or 500 feet over any other areas, unless they are landing or taking off.

Aircraft may be able to fly below these heights in certain situations. More information is available on the CASA website.

Except while holding in a holding pattern of 2 minutes or less, or while turning, each person operating an aircraft under VFR in level cruising flight more than 3,000 feet above the surface shall maintain the appropriate altitude or flight level prescribed below, unless otherwise authorized by ATC:

(a) When operating below 18,000 feet MSL and -

(1) On a magnetic course of zero degrees through 179 degrees, any odd thousand foot MSL altitude + 500 feet (such as 3,500, 5,500, or 7,500); or

(2) On a magnetic course of 180 degrees through 359 degrees, any even thousand foot MSL altitude + 500 feet (such as 4,500, 6,500, or 8,500).

(b) When operating above 18,000 feet MSL, maintain the altitude or flight level assigned by ATC.

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§ 91.161 Special awareness training required for pilots flying under visual flight rules within a 60-nautical mile radius of the Washington, DC VOR/DME.

(a) Operations within a 60-nautical mile radius of the Washington, DC VOR/DME under visual flight rules (VFR). Except as provided under paragraph (e) of this section, no person may serve as a pilot in command or as second in command of an aircraft while flying within a 60-nautical mile radius of the DCA VOR/DME, under VFR, unless that pilot has completed Special Awareness Training and holds a certificate of training completion.

(b) Special Awareness Training. The Special Awareness Training consists of information to educate pilots about the procedures for flying in the Washington, DC area and, more generally, in other types of special use airspace. This free training is available on the FAA's Web site. Upon completion of the training, each person will need to print out a copy of the certificate of training completion.

(c) Inspection of certificate of training completion. Each person who holds a certificate for completing the Special Awareness Training must present it for inspection upon request from:

(1) An authorized representative of the FAA;

(2) An authorized representative of the National Transportation Safety Board;

(3) Any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer; or

(4) An authorized representative of the Transportation Security Administration.

(d) Emergency declared. The failure to complete the Special Awareness Training course on flying in and around the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area is not a violation of this section if an emergency is declared by the pilot, as described under § 91.3(b), or there was a failure of two-way radio communications when operating under IFR as described under § 91.185.

(e) Exceptions. The requirements of this section do not apply if the flight is being performed in an aircraft of an air ambulance operator certificated to conduct part 135 operations under this chapter, the U.S. Armed Forces, or a law enforcement agency.

[Doc. No. FAA-2006-25250, 73 FR 46803, Aug. 12, 2008]