Flight Level Rules
In order to ensure safe separation between aircraft above the transition level, flight levels (FLs) are allocated according to the aircraft heading (NEODD-SWEVEN rule).
What is RVSM?
RVSM reduces the vertical separation from 2000 ft to 1000 ft between FL290 and FL410, increasing airspace capacity.
VFR Flights
VFR flights use cruising levels ending in 5 (e.g., FL045, FL055) to separate them from IFR traffic.
Standard ICAO / RVSM
| Westbound (180°-359°) (EVEN) |
Eastbound (000°-179°) (ODD) |
| FL400 |
FL410 |
| FL380 |
FL390 |
| FL360 |
FL370 |
| FL340 |
FL350 |
| FL320 |
FL330 |
| FL300 |
FL310 |
| FL280 |
FL290 |
| FL260 |
FL270 |
| FL240 |
FL250 |
| FL220 |
FL230 |
| FL200 |
FL210 |
| FL180 |
FL190 |
| FL160 |
FL170 |
| FL140 |
FL150 |
| FL120 |
FL130 |
| FL100 |
FL110 |
| FL80 |
FL90 |
| FL60 |
FL70 |
| FL40 |
FL50 |
France, Italy, Portugal (North/South)
| Southbound (090°-269°) (EVEN) |
Northbound (270°-089°) (ODD) |
| FL400 |
FL410 |
| FL380 |
FL390 |
| FL360 |
FL370 |
| FL340 |
FL350 |
| FL320 |
FL330 |
| FL300 |
FL310 |
| FL280 |
FL290 |
| FL260 |
FL270 |
| FL240 |
FL250 |
| FL220 |
FL230 |
| FL200 |
FL210 |
| FL180 |
FL190 |
| FL160 |
FL170 |
| FL140 |
FL150 |
| FL120 |
FL130 |
| FL100 |
FL110 |
| FL80 |
FL90 |
| FL60 |
FL70 |
| FL40 |
FL50 |
North Atlantic Tracks (NAT)
On NAT tracks, levels are assigned according to the daily Track Message (Even for West, Odd for East).
China & North Korea (Metric RVSM)
| Westbound (180°-359°) |
Eastbound (000°-179°) |
| S1250 (41100') |
- |
| - |
S1190 (39100') |
| S1160 (38100') |
- |
| - |
S1130 (37100') |
| S1100 (36100') |
- |
| - |
S1070 (35100') |
| S1040 (34100') |
- |
| - |
S1010 (33100') |
| S0980 (32100') |
- |
| - |
S0950 (31100') |
| S0920 (30100') |
- |
| - |
S0890 (29100') |
| S0840 (27600') |
- |
| - |
S0810 (26600') |
| S0780 (25600') |
- |
| - |
S0750 (24600') |
| S0720 (23600') |
- |
| - |
S0690 (22600') |
| S0660 (21700') |
- |
| - |
S0630 (20700') |
Mongolia (Metric RVSM)
| Westbound (180°-359°) |
Eastbound (000°-179°) |
| S1500 (49200') |
- |
| S1460 (47900') |
- |
| - |
S1410 (46300') |
| S1360 (44600') |
- |
| - |
S1310 (43000') |
| S1260 (41300') |
- |
| - |
S1210 (39700') |
| S1160 (38100') |
- |
| - |
S1110 (36400') |
| S1060 (34800') |
- |
| - |
S1010 (33100') |
| S0960 (31500') |
- |
| - |
S0910 (29900') |
| S0860 (28200') |
- |
| - |
S0810 (26600') |
United Kingdom (Semicircular) / New Zealand (Semicircular)
In the UK below FL245, levels often end in 0, but 500ft separation is used between VFR/IFR traffic.
NZ: Northbound (270°-089°) = ODD | Southbound (090°-269°) = EVEN.
Transition Level & Pressure
Remember: when climbing above Transition Level, you must set standard pressure 1013 hPa (29.92 inHg). All flight levels are based on standard pressure.
