Cruising altitude question

JordanD

Here so I don’t get fined
Something I've thought about but need a little clarification on. What's the accepted practice for cruising altitudes on a flight plan where you dog leg back and forth between courses that require odd thousands and even thousands? Is it really practical or necessary to climb/descend every segment or will ATC not really care if you're IFR and in radar contact.
 
I usually just plot a direct course from DEP to DEST and use that as the deciding factor for which VFR altitude to use, unless the dog legs are excessive in heading change and duration, then I would change altitudes.
As for IFR, the regs only mention the even odd rule when in uncontrolled airspace. In this case I would use the VFR rule previously mentioned. When you're in controlled space IFR, ATC tells you how to fly the plane :-)
http://www.risingup.com/fars/info/part91-179-FAR.shtml
 
Just file the altitude that is appropriate for your initial leg. Sort the rest out with ATC once your enroute.
 
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