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OK - I understand that the transition altitude is 3000ft amsl - but if the transition altitude is 3000ft AMSL why is the transition level FL35 and the answer FL50? It needs explaining in basic terms! I'm probably just not seeing something I should be and haven't got access to my books at the moment!
Sam
Put the aircraft on the shelf at 3000ft with QNH 1010.
Now the aircraft is on a shelf it cannot climb or descend agreed.
Put you hand through the window and wind on 1013 (Pressure up = height/alt up).
Altimeter is now reading FLIGHT LEVEL(S) at approx
FL3.1 so FL 30 IS NOT AVAILABLE--The next available FL is FL3.5 but on the mag track given in your question it would be FL50 (first quadrant = ODD)