Above transition altitude
 

Now here's a juicy morsal for a young buck to get his teeth into. Transition altitude is 3,000'. You are flying on a south easterly heading, VFR over some scattered cloud at 4,000'. The reason why you are doing that is not important. You are doing it just because you can. There are no airspace restrictions and you are on regional QNH. What height do you/should you fly at? If any?

First, I assume you mean the Transition Altitude is 3,000'.

In the situation you describe, you can fly at any altitude you like, so long as you maintain VMC.


MJ:ok:

Naaa

Octagonal levels minus 6 inches is the correct answer ;) especially if your on something

Pace

Sorry my error. Edited.

Minus 6 inches? := That's a bit sloppy! ;)


MJ:ok:

MJ

The six inches is presuming you happen to be flying inverted at the time so you don't kiss the tyres of the other aircraft going over the top at octagonal levels the wrong way :E See clever stuff :ok:
Problem with questions like this one right answer and the thread is dead :(

Pace

When we loose the Quadrantal Rule, does that mean the sky's capacity to contain aircraft will be halved? :confused:


MJ:ok:

What prompted it was an idle conversation the other day. I was talking about the soon to be introduction of the semi circular rule (always reminds me of semi circular canal when I hear it) and I mentioned that I like to cruise above the muck on a nice day.

'Ah, using the quadrantals then' said the other fluger.

'No, only if I'm IFR, if it's VFR above broken crud I just fly whatever is convenient' I retorted.

There then followed a bizzare conversation in which I said it was pointless being on quadrantals on VFR because it depends what you have set on the subscale against his argument that it was good airmanship to fly quadrantal even if VFR.

It wasn't a long conversation because a woman with long legs hove into view.

So you were at Shoreham?

Blow the quadrantal rule discussion, I'd like to hear more about the woman with long legs please.


I mean, is she a pilot? What does she fly?... ... No not really - what about her other "attributes"?

Ah. I see.

Well, if you do fly Quadrantals, you must fly them as Flight Levels, ie. on 1013.2 hPa.

Nothing to stop you flying IFR if you like, even if you don't have any instrument qualification, as long as you maintain VMC.

In the situation you suggest, you should choose an odd level+500' that gives you at least 1,000' above the terrain, and at least 1,000' above the cloud to maintain VMC. eg. FL055, FL075 etc.

It does no harm to fly Quadrantal levels in the cruise. If everyone did, collisions would be a bit less likely.

As for the long legged beauty? Well I believe there are other forums where they specialise in that kind if discussion. I wouldn't know what they are though, of course! :O


MJ:ok:

She is a pilot. Think Penny Lancaster.

Be interesting to see if many collisions have occured above transition height. You may have a point though.

Transition 'height' - now, there's a new one.
Apart from European law, that is: In any case, just because you choose to fly at a quadrantal level, it doesn't necessarily mean that you are operating under IFR.

Does that mean that IMC holders can't fly IFR then?

Every day on Pprune is a learning day...:)

thing

You answered your own question (as long as you are in VMC, of course, and we are talking about the UK). Whether it might be wise to also fly at a specific level is another matter.

2 s

I was after opinions rather than an answer to a question. Just surprised me that some people fly quadrantals when it's pointless really unless everyone has the same subscale setting.

Thing

Quadrantles are a way of giving aircraft some separation from each other when in IMC or not looking out in VMC.

It is a method of flying IFR OCAS.

The aircraft flying VFR in VMC at those levels or on a QNH are supposed to be visual so aware of other traffic visually.

At least some separation is better than No separation ?

Pace

I have no argument with that, all valid points but if you are IFR OCAS and flying merrily along at FL45 in VMC above 6/8 muck it's not a guarentee that Joe Bloggs who is VFR and flying on a regional will not be heading straight for you. As you say, look out should prevent any mishaps but we all know that it can go wrong.

You may be following the spirit of the law but it doesn't mean that everyone else is.

BillieBob
 

I think you have answered your own point there. There is nothing to stop people choosing to operate in accordance with IFR, without being 'under IFR'.


MJ:ok: