Italian semicircular quirk
AOPA Italy would like to draw to the attention of all European pilots a peculiarity of Italian airspace, which might so far have escaped the attention of visitors. The ubiquitous definition of the so-called “semicircular” flight rule for VFR flights in fact does not apply to Italy, where it has been modified as follows:
All VFR flights above 3,000 ft, or above 1,000 ft AGL, whichever is greatest, must fly at the following flight levels:
For headings between 270° and 089°: even tens plus 5 (i.e. FL 45, 65, 85, etc.)
For headings between 090° and 269°: odd tens plus 5 (i.e. FL 35, 55, 75, etc.)
This differs from the universal practice of splitting the levels in a north-south line used in other European countries and is a source of potential problems. Italian geography is such that the great majority of flights are in NW and SE directions – ATC cites the country’s shape as the reason for the semicircular anomaly – and in these quadrants there is no difference in the Italian and international requirements.
AOPA Italy’s Massimo Levi says: “How many French, German or British pilots are aware of this difference? We believe not many, which explains our concern. The situation poses difficulties not only for foreign pilots in Italy, but for Italian pilots leaving the country, who must be aware that the rest of the world does things differently.”
(IAOPA e-newsletter)
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