January 2, 201313 yr Hi all! I have a question regarding the altitudes at which planes fly over Atlantic, the area south of Spain and west of Morocco. According to the rules of RVSM separation, flight heading westwards must be flying at even altitudes, while flights heading eastwards at odd altitudes. But observing flightradar24 I noticed that the planes flying in the direction of Canary Islands from continental Europe (westwards) are flying at odd altitudes. And the question is - why? :huh:
January 2, 201313 yr What level was the transponder showing? I dont know the procedures for that area but they 'may' use the Quadrantal Rule as used in the UK, below FL195 with a mag track between 180 & 269 even flight levels are used. ATC can use any level depending on traffic/movements/requirments/phase of flight/WX issues, always good pratice to use the quad and semi circ rules though, very observant of you! Rich
January 2, 201313 yr Author What level was the transponder showing? Various flight levels but generally really high up. Most planes I checked were flying at FL370, FL390 and FL410. What is interesting, today I saw two planes not that far from each other, one heading southwesternly the other one northeasternly, both at FL410 :Thinking:
January 2, 201313 yr I seem to remember that the area south of Spain/west of Morocco can suffer high level turbulance and the Spanish AIS often suspends RVSM on those tracks. Peter Schluter
January 2, 201313 yr I noticed that the planes flying in the direction of Canary Islands from continental Europe (westwards) are flying at odd altitudes. In Spanish airspace the the rules are different. Generally all southbound flights fly odd, northbound fly even. The same is valid for Portugese, French, Italian and for some airways in Swiss airspace. The reason behind this is that most of the air traffic in those countries is north/south rather than east/west Daniel Nilsson
January 2, 201313 yr Author In Spanish airspace the the rules are different. Generally all southbound flights fly odd, northbound fly even. The same is valid for Portugese, French, Italian and for some airways in Swiss airspace. The reason behind this is that most of the air traffic in those countries is north/south rather than east/west That's what I thought might be the reason but I thought that such division is only in Portuguese and Italian airspace. Now I know I was wrong, thanks for making it clear !
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