It is important that you know the cruising levels of traffic with respect to how other aircraft operate in airspace. Although you will rarely fly a balloon at a predefined altitude aeroplanes and helicopters do generally operate at predetermined cruising levels based on their category of operation (VFR or IFR) and the direction that they are travelling in. The purpose of this is to provide a level of automatic vertical separation for aircraft that could be on collision courses at high closing speeds. The rule is known as the hemispherical rule.

Knowledge of this this will assist you in knowing what levels an aircraft that is approaching your flight area is likely to be cruising at.

AIP ENR 1.7 Section 5 gives Tables of Cruising Levels for IFR and VFR aircraft.

There is a neumonic ‘NOSE’ to assist you in remembering this information.

North Odds South Evens

IFR aircraft fly at the rounded ‘000 foot level

VFR aircraft fly at the ‘000 foot level PLUS 500 feet

Aircraft that are flying on a magnetic track from North – 000^o through to 179^o should be flying at Odd thousands of feet;

Aircraft that are flying on a magnetic track from South – 180^o through to 359^o should be flying at Even thousands of feet.

There are some exceptions to this rule: ENR 1.7 Paragraph 3.1.3 provides for VFR aircraft operating outside of controlled airspace to operate at random levels and aircraft on climb or descent may not be at a hemisperical level.

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Technical data content credited to Mr Steve Griffin