Flight Level

How to Choose the Correct Flight Level for Your Flight

Worldwide RVSM
RVSM is the world standard. Here is a map that roughly shows what regions of the world use / will use the RVSM system, and since when:

RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minima) rules apply. For more information: http://www.ecacnav.com/rvsm/ http://www.faa.gov/ats/ato/rvsm1.htm Westbound heading 180 - 359 FL400 FL390 FL380 FL370 FL360 FL350 FL340 FL330 FL320 Eastbound heading 360 - 179 FL410

FL310 FL300 FL290 FL280 FL270 FL260 FL250 FL240 FL230 FL220 odd levels even levels etc. Exceptions:
France Italia Portugal Spain Switzerland

In the above countries, up to FL290, a different rule applies: North South RVSM Northbound heading 270 089 FL280 FL270 FL260 FL250 FL240 FL230 FL220 FL210 FL200 FL190 FL180 odd levels even levels Above FL290 standard RVSM rules apply. All of the above RVSM rules apply only up to FL410. Above FL410 standard ICAO rules are effective. See USA, Canada South, Mexico, South America. RVSM Implementation in Europe http://www.ecacnav.com/rvsm/map.htm Southbound heading 090 269 FL290

Russia and China: In Russian and Chinese airspace all flights are in meters. Westbound, heading 180 - 359 Eastbound, heading 360 - 179 Separation 1000 m FL Metres FL Metres 528 16100 495 15100 463 14100 430 13100 397 12100 Separation 500 m 381 11600 364 11000 348 10600 331 10100 315 9600 299 9100 282 8600 266 8100 Separation 300 m 256 7800 246 7500 236 7200 226 6900 217 6600 207 6300 197 6000 187 5700 177 5400 167 5100 157 4800 148 4500 138 4200 128 3900 118 3600 108 3300 098 3000 089 2700 079 2400 069 2100 059 1800 049 1500 039 1200 030 900

North Atlantic: Special NAT (North Atlantic Track) RVSM rules apply on North Atlantic Track routes. For more information: http://www.natroutes.glideslope.de/ Westbound heading 180 359 FL400 FL390 FL380 FL370 FL360 FL350 FL340 FL330 FL320 FL310 Eastbound heading 360 - 179 FL400 FL390 FL380 FL370 FL360 FL350 FL340 FL330 FL320 FL310

Japan, South Korea, Africa: Standard ICAO flight level rules apply. Westbound heading 180 359 FL590 FL570 FL550 FL530 FL510 FL490 FL470 FL450 FL430 FL410 FL390 FL370 FL350 FL330 FL310 FL290 FL280 FL270 FL260 Eastbound heading 360 - 179 FL610

FL250 FL240 FL230 FL220 FL210 FL200 FL190 FL180 17000 ft 16000 ft 15000 ft 14000 ft
odd thousands even thousands

Other airspace
This section presents particular airspaces we know of that diverge from all of the above standard RVSM or ICAO rules. I hope for it to be a growing section and as soon as we find out about other airspace rules we will immediately add them to this section. New Zealand: Northbound heading 270 089 FL490 FL450 FL430 FL410 FL400 FL390 FL380 FL370 FL360 FL350 FL340 FL330 FL320 FL310 FL300 FL290 FL280 FL270 FL260 FL250 FL240 Southbound heading 090 - 269 FL470

FL230 FL220 FL210 FL200 FL190 FL180 FL170 FL160 FL150 13000 ft 12000 ft 11000 ft 10000 ft 9000 ft
even thousand odd thousands