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VFR - Methods for Choosing the Lowest Cruising Altitude

Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2019 5:32 pm
by CaptainMD
Hi all,

Disregarding any tail wind advantage, I wanted to get a sense of what parameter people use on the VFR sectional charts only to determine their lowest and legal VFR cruising altitude. I find myself using the MEF (max elevation figure) +500 by quadrant as my method.

Thanks!
Massimo

Re: VFR - Methods for Choosing the Lowest Cruising Altitude

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 6:04 am
by Ray Salmon
Hi Massimo,

The technique you're using is a good one. Another one I was taught was to find the highest terrain/obstacle with 5nm either side of my planned track and then add 500 ft and round up to the nearest appropriate VFR cruising altitude.

Ray

Re: VFR - Methods for Choosing the Lowest Cruising Altitude

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 7:39 am
by CaptainMD
Thanks Ray,

I like how that method is calculated based on your route of flight.

Its interesting to see what was “taught”. You can’t always find taught experience gems in a text book or blog.