When flying east at more than 3000 feet AGL, what altitude should you maintain?

When flying east, a pilot should adhere to the FAA’s cruising altitude rules, which are designed to organize air traffic and prevent collisions. For flights at altitudes above 3,000 feet AGL and going east (which is typically defined as 0° to 179°), the appropriate altitude to maintain is odd thousands plus 500 feet. This means that the pilot would select altitudes such as 3,500 feet, 5,500 feet, 7,500 feet, etc.

This system is part of the "VFR cruising altitudes" regulations, where:

• Westbound flights (from 180° to 359°) maintain even thousands plus 500 feet, like 4,500 or 6,500 feet.

• Eastbound flights maintain odd thousands plus 500 feet, which helps to create a systematic flow of air traffic in opposite directions at various altitudes.

Adhering to these altitude guidelines not only enhances safety but also allows ATC to keep track of traffic more effectively.