Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Guide to Master Your IFR Certification!

When maintaining VFR on top in Class E airspace, the cruising altitude is determined using magnetic course. This is because, in aviation, altitudes for VFR flight are typically assigned based on the magnetic course of the aircraft. The rules for VFR cruising altitudes state that pilots should fly at odd thousands of feet MSL when on a magnetic course between 0° and 179° and even thousands of feet MSL when on a magnetic course between 180° and 359°.

By choosing magnetic course, pilots are better able to maintain proper altitude separation from other aircraft flying under VFR, as this standardization helps to ensure safety and minimize the risk of midair collisions. Understanding this concept is crucial for pilots who operate in areas where they may encounter other VFR traffic, especially in shared airspace like Class E.

The other options do not correctly represent the criteria for determining cruising altitude in this situation. True course does not account for magnetic variations, and simply using a magnetic heading does not provide the necessary altitude guidelines that correspond to the plotted course. Flight level above terrain does not apply to VFR cruising altitudes in this specific context, as the altitude is assessed relative to the Earth's surface rather than solely the terrain beneath.