FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Navigation and AirspaceMedium
A pilot planning a VFR flight above 3,000 feet AGL determines a magnetic course of 095°. Which altitude complies with the VFR cruising altitude rule of 14 CFR 91.159?
- A6,500 feet MSL
- B9,000 feet MSL
- C8,500 feet MSL
- D7,500 feet MSL
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. 7,500 feet MSL
For magnetic courses of 0° through 179°, VFR cruising altitudes must be odd thousands plus 500 feet (e.g., 3,500, 5,500, 7,500). A course of 095° falls in this range, so 7,500 feet MSL is correct; the other choices use the wrong parity or omit the +500 feet.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 6,500 is even thousand plus 500, wrong parity for this course.
- B. 9,000 has no 500-foot addition and is even thousand, both wrong.
- C. 8,500 is even-thousand-plus-500, used for courses 180°-359°.
VFR Cruising Altitude Rule
Under 91.159, VFR flights more than 3,000 ft AGL below 18,000 MSL must fly odd-thousand+500 ft for magnetic courses 0°-179° and even-thousand+500 ft for 180°-359°.
- Applies only above 3,000 ft AGL
- Based on magnetic course, not heading
- Add 500 ft to the appropriate thousand
Memory trick: 'Odd East, Even West' plus 500 feet.