Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Practice Exam 2026 – The All-in-One Guide to Master Your IFR Certification!

When planning an IFR flight on V86 EASTBOUND, the relevant altitude provisions are determined by the regulations governing flight levels and by the structure of the FAA's air traffic control system. The maximum altitude for eastbound flights in controlled airspace is typically limited to 17,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) for the altitude that can be flight planned under such circumstances.

In the context of IFR operations, altitudes are assigned based on hemispheric rules; for eastbound flights, the standard altitudes range from 0 to 17,000 feet MSL. Above this altitude, aircraft will transition to flight levels, starting at 18,000 feet, where the altimeter setting switches to flight levels, and altimeters are standardized to 29.92 inches of mercury.

Thus, the correct maximum altitude that may be flight planned for an eastbound IFR flight on V86 is indeed 17,000 feet MSL.