IFR Flight Levels

[flying_shortly]

Hey,

Studying Air Law, Rules of the Air.

It gives the break down of IFR vs VFR flight levels in the chapter. IFR = in thousands and in steps of one thousand with certain conditions... and VFR in thousands + 500 in steps of one thousand and again with certain conditions.

I remember when I studied for PPL that for IFR the quadrantal rule applied.

My question is where to draw the line between IFR quandrantal and IFR as outlined in ICAO for ATPL's? Is it a regional thing that differs from ICAO? Hope this makes sense.

Also, when should I use flight levels in flying VMC? Above transition altitude in controlled airspace. Any other time? Should I use it in uncontrolled to be in the habit of adjusting and safety?

Hope this makes sense...
Thanks in advance!

[kharmael]

Quadrantal below FL245
Semi Circular Above


VFR Flight levels above transition altitude at all times. Regional QNH below.

[flying_shortly]

Thanks for that.

The ATPL's take the semi circular from 1000ft but I assume that's just a basic rule as laid down by ICAO and is different in JAR land?

[Curtis E Carr]

See Rule 34 of the Rule of the Air Regulations 2007. You will see that FL245 is not the upper limit to fly quadrantals.

[flying_shortly]

lol... argh!

So, quadrantal below FL195 and semi circular above?

[kharmael]

Doh, the rules changed at some point didn't they!

[nick14]

I seem to remember for IFR you should fly Quadrantal outside CAS and Semicircular inside CAS or have I got the wrong end of the wrong stick?

[hvogt]

Is it a regional thing that differs from ICAO?

Yes, exactley. According to ICAO Annex 2 there are only semicircular cruising levels. The quadrantal rule is a lovely British speciality (cf UK AIP GEN 1-7-9).