FAA Ground School Practice Test

For a flight above 3000 ft AGL on a magnetic course of 185°, which cruising altitude is appropriate?

1. 5500 ft

2. 4500 ft

3. 7500 ft

4. 3500 ft

The correct answer is: 4500 ft

In aviation, cruising altitudes are assigned based on the magnetic course of the aircraft, following the rules of the semi-circular rule for altimeter assignments. For a flight above 3000 feet AGL and on a magnetic course within the range of 180° to 359°, the appropriate altitudes are odd thousands plus 500 feet. Specifically, for a magnetic course of 185°, the next odd thousand altitude would be 5500 feet. However, aviation regulations dictate that you will need to level off at the closest appropriate altitude above that, which is 5500 feet. However, the available altitudes that are appropriate for this course would not include 3500 feet (which is below 3000 feet AGL) and 4500 feet (which doesn't correspond with the odd thousand requirement). This results in 7500 ft being the only proper answer line-wise but since you should be leveling off in the 500 increment range given the choice of 4500 as the ‘closest” correct. Hence 4500 ft may also be reasonably observed as permissible. Therefore, while cruising at an altitude of 4500 feet is technically within regulations, it is less appropriate given the context of your magnetic course,