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Flight levels and headings

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EHM-2155 Mariano:
Hello chaps

wondering if you could help me out with this little doubt that is plaguing my brain lately. I know the info is somewhere around the site but i downloaded manuals and procedures and I cant find it

I know i should use even and odd FL numbers depending on where im heading, east or west, but how does it work? can anyone give me a little chart that shows all levels from, say, FL180 to FL410? Cos after some height the FL separation is 2000', am I right?

EHM-1749 Hector:
Mariano,
in the Americas and some parts in Europe the FLs between 000° and 179° are ODD + 500 vor VFR and ODD for IFR up to and including FL290. When the heading is between 180° and 359° FLs are EVEN+500 for VFR and EVEN for IFR up to FL280.
Above FL290 up to FL410 there is a regulation called RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minima)
Reduced Vertical Separation Minima or Minimum (RVSM) is an aviation term used to describe the reduction of the standard vertical separation required between aircraft flying at levels between FL290 (29,000 ft.) and FL410 (41,000 ft.) from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet. This therefore increases number of aircraft that can safely fly in a particular volume of airspace.

Historically, standard vertical separation was 1,000 feet from the surface to FL290, 2,000 feet from FL290 to FL410 and 4,000 feet above this. This was because the accuracy of the pressure altimeter used in aircraft to determine level decreases with height. However over time altimeters have become more accurate and autopilots more adept at maintaining a set level, therefore it became apparent that for many modern aircraft, the 2,000 foot separation was too cautious. It was therefore proposed by ICAO that this be reduced to 1,000 feet.

Between 2002 and 2004 RVSM was implemented in much of Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia and North America, and over the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Only aircraft with specially certified altimeters and autopilots may fly in RVSM airspace, otherwise the aircraft must fly lower or higher than the airspace, or seek special exemption from the requirements. (Excerpt from Wikipedia)

In some countries in Europe like Portugal, Spain, France and Italy the partition is not East/West but North/South so the FL will depend whether you fly between 270° and 089° or 090° and 269° but at this time I don´t remember which one is EVEN.
I prepared an Excel table for my use when flying in Europe which I will be glad to share with you after I get home tonight.
I see that you are in Argentina so we are close because I am in Mendoza.

Saludos,
Hector

EHM-2155 Mariano:
Allright I see, very cool info. The reason i'm asking is cos I was flying online the other day for EHM, from Lisbon to Madrid, so it was eastwards, and mantaining FL 210, and was asked to change to 220...

If you could share that table, itd be great.

Thanks in advance

EHM-1001 Robert:
Unfortunately in some regions they simply break the rule...or simply use different levels bvecause of heavy north-south traffic.

The bad thing is you should aware of it...the good point is the ATC will say all the arriving planes to change altitude if they are on wrong vertical separation, so chance for a collission is low ;)

EHM-2155 Mariano:
Any word on that table Hector? ^^
you can email it to me if you want, or even add me in messenger (goes for anyone) mariano_de_ascen@hot...

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