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Which VFR cruising altitude is appropriate when flying above 3,000' AGL on a magnetic course of 185°?

User Pye
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Final answer:

The appropriate VFR cruising altitude for a flight above 3,000 feet AGL on a magnetic course of 185° is any even thousand-foot level plus 500 feet, such as 4,500, 6,500 feet, etc.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about VFR cruising altitudes, which pertains to the rules of flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). For flights above 3,000 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) in the United States, VFR cruising altitudes are determined based on the magnetic course of the flight. The Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) state that when flying at altitudes above 3,000 feet AGL and on a magnetic course of 0° through 179° (generally north or east), pilots should fly at odd thousand-foot levels plus 500 feet (e.g., 3,500, 5,500 feet, etc.).

If the magnetic course is from 180° through 359° (generally south or west), the appropriate altitude is an even thousand-foot level plus 500 feet (e.g., 4,500, 6,500 feet, etc.). Given that the student asked about a magnetic course of 185°, the correct VFR cruising altitude would be any even thousand-foot level plus 500 feet, such as 4,500, 6,500 feet, and so on, depending upon airspace requirements and the aircraft's performance.

User Edwin Krause
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