What levels to fly IFR in Class G if Transition is 18,000'?

[TheOddOne]

I've been reading the FAQs for the proposed change to the UK transition level from the present mish-mash to 18,000'. At present there is a convention of flying at odd Flight levels flying East and even FL flying West, so I fly FL50 going 'up-country' and FL60 coming home, for instance. Simple. ATC seem to accept that I'm IFR without too much parlay if I ask for a Traffic Service. I can fly IMC but not a condition of being IFR, of course.

Now, I can't find any suggestion that we should adopt flying at, say, 5,000' Eastbound etc. What happens elsewhere in the World that already has a transition altitude of 18,000'?

I REALLY like the accompanying proposal that we scrap Regional Pressure Settings. Yesterday it was lower than our aerodrome QFE and we're on top of a cliff! I've read through how the new Area Pressure Setting would work and it seems really good to me.

TOO

[BackPacker]

The semi-circular rule remains exactly the same but you'll be flying altitudes (in 100' of feet) instead of flight levels.

So if the old situation required you at, say, FL50, then the new situation will require you at 5000 feet on whatever pressure setting is appropriate.

[dublinpilot]

Why does IFR come into it?

It's the exact same as at present just you start using FL instead of altitude at a higher level.

It makes not a bit of difference wether you are VFR or IFR. You swap to FL/Altitude at the same points, just the level/altitude you fly at is different.

What do you currently do above 3000ft but below the transition level? Well, keep doing the same!

[chevvron]

Why does IFR come into it?

It's the exact same as at present just you start using FL instead of altitude at a higher level.

It makes not a bit of difference wether you are VFR or IFR. You swap to FL/Altitude at the same points, just the level/altitude you fly at is different.

What do you currently do above 3000ft but below the transition level? Well, keep doing the same!
I think you'll find that it's recommended VFR traffic should use +500ft levels.

[The Ancient Geek]

So far the CAA have been rather vague on this subject.
When I was in South Africa in the 1970s it was all very simple.
Transition altitude was 19000 feet and anything FL200 and above was controlled airspace, IFR only.

We should not conflate this question with the Quadrantal vs Semicircular question which is a separate can of worms. IMHO the sooner we harmonise with europe on this one the better.

[Heston]

"We should not conflate this question with the Quadrantal vs Semicircular question which is a separate can of worms. IMHO the sooner we harmonise with europe on this one the better."

Er, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought we already had harmonised with Europe on that? Aren't quadrantals history already?

[n5296s]

Now, I can't find any suggestion that we should adopt flying at, say, 5,000' Eastbound etc. What happens elsewhere in the World that already has a transition altitude of 18,000'?


In the US it's simple. East is odd, west is even. VFR is plus 500 feet. FL180 and above is Class A, IFR only. In practice Class G is rarely more than 1200 AGL, the rest is Class E by default.

The same rule applies (minus VFR) above FL180 too, i.e. east you would fly at e.g. FL230. This includes RVSM altitudes though my 182 doesn't get up that high. Pre-RVSM the rules are different but hardly something I get to deal with in reality.