and yet, there it is. And yes, it's defined as "offshore".This is the reference provide to me by the FAA when I asked the question in 2021. 71.33(c) applies to international airspace. The airspace over Hawaii is part of the US, last I checked.
“Upper limit undefined.”
I’m guessing the Space Shuttle has waivered airspace.
That's funny. Never thought about it but did the Space Shuttle descent IFR or VFR?I’m guessing the Space Shuttle has waivered airspace.
Or the altitude cop on his Harley just doesn’t think it’s worth the chase.
Honestly, though, I suspect ATC is providing separation from any SR-71s in the area.
I’m sure they weren’t talking directly to ATC, but the airspace had been coordinated previously
What does it say on the airworthiness certificate?
What does it say on the airworthiness certificate?
They're public aircraft. None required. But they would be rockets.What does it say on the airworthiness certificate?
“Expired.”What does it say on the airworthiness certificate?
It don’t cruise, it descends, so no.
Space Shuttle got an ALTRV, that kept IFR traffic away. A TFR was issued to keep VFR’s away.I’m guessing the Space Shuttle has waivered airspace.
Or the altitude cop on his Harley just doesn’t think it’s worth the chase.
Honestly, though, I suspect ATC is providing separation from any SR-71s in the area.
For IFR in controlled airspace, there are no regulatory "Wrong altitude for direction of flight", but ATC will generally assign them based on the hemispheric rule. For states like Florida where many routes are north/south, ATC does not follow the hemispheric rule in some areas.
I get that IFR cruising altitudes are regulatory only in uncontrolled airspace, I was just passing along what center/approach has said to me a handful of times. They may have been changing my altitude for traffic, although typically that would be a vector not altitude change, and their verbiage possibly implied they thought the altitude change was regulatory despite being in class E airspace.
There are a few things at work. As John mentioned, the regulatory IFR hemispheric rule only applies in uncontrolled airspace (why? because it says so). For controlled airspace, it's whatever ATC assigns (the reg says that too).
JAX center issued a notice about this for north florida. I have had ATC request changing from E to W altitudes based on my relativel minor “doglegs” all over fliridaThrow in the Florida version of the hemisphere rule
The "why?" is easy. It is because, in controlled airspace, ATC provides IFR separation. That leaves it up to ATC to decide which altitude(s) to use for that separation. They usually use the hemispheric rule, but that can be modified procedurally, like JAX Center, or in cases where it is expeditious to do so.
Normal for JAX center due to the traffic flows being predominately north and south. You'll usually get the altitude change prior to entering JAX airspace due to letters of agreement with the adjoining centers.
As the rest of that same post (which pretty much says what you just did) I think makes clear, my "because it says so" was only intended as a prompt to those who read Cliff Notes instead of regulations. I'd almost be willing to bet that if we did a poll where this wasn't discussed, a substantial percentage - if not more than 50% - would say pilots have to follow the hemispheric rule in controlled airspace.
Oh. I think an interesting threshold question is how many regular IFR pilots know that there's a hemispheric rule for IFR at all, since I wager the overwhelming majority have never flown IFR in uncontrolled airspace, and only ever fly the altitude they're told.
The percentage would be quite high.
I don't know if it's still the case but I recall questions about it on the knowledge test.
) have rules which apply "under IFR;" those which apply "in controlled airspace" under IFR, and those which apply in "uncontrolled airspace" under IFR.