Cruising Altitude/Level
Cruising altitude (or cruising level) is the altitude maintained during the en route phase of a flight between the climb and descent phases. In Canada, cruising altitudes for IFR flight are assigned by ATC; for VFR flight at and above 3,000 ft AGL, they follow the magnetic (or true) track rule.
VFR Cruising Altitudes (CARs Rule)
- Magnetic track 0°–179°: Fly at odd thousands + 500 ft (3,500 / 5,500 / 7,500 / 9,500 ft, etc.)
- Magnetic track 180°–359°: Fly at even thousands + 500 ft (4,500 / 6,500 / 8,500 ft, etc.)
- In the Northern Domestic Airspace (NDA): use true track instead of magnetic track
Why the +500 ft?
The 500 ft addition provides 500 ft vertical separation between opposing VFR traffic on the same altitude half-track. It also ensures VFR traffic maintains at least 500 ft separation from IFR traffic cruising at even thousands (eastbound) or odd thousands (westbound) in the opposite direction.
IFR Cruising Altitudes
IFR cruising altitudes in Canada below FL290 follow the same east-odd/west-even pattern but without the +500 ft: 5,000 / 7,000 / 9,000 ft eastbound; 6,000 / 8,000 / 10,000 ft westbound. Above FL290, RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minima) applies with 1,000 ft separation.
On the TC Written Exam
The VFR cruising altitude rule is guaranteed to appear on the written exam. Know the east/west rule and the NDA true track exception.
Related Terms
See also: Altitude, Canadian Domestic Airspace, Northern Domestic Airspace.