What is a good cruising altitude for a Cessna 172? This is an essential question for any Cessna pilot to consider if they want to get the most from their aircraft.
The best altitude for a short-haul flight is 4,500 ft, and 9,500 ft for longer flights. Altitudes over 10,000 ft. are part of the transition layer, and cruising far above this altitude is not recommended in a Cessna 172.
An important thing to bear in mind is that private jets have different cruising altitudes from their commercial counterparts.
Table of Contents
What Is a Good Cruising Altitude for a Cessna 172? How Do I Decide?
Choosing your altitude is an integral part of flight planning. However, some factors are important to keep in mind as you make this decision.
Where Are the Winds?
Considering where the winds are is essential. Running into a strong headwind is a situation any pilot will want to avoid!
For this information, many pilots use tools like the winds aloft overlay on ForeFlight or their own private pilot calculators. The altitude selector allows you to take a closer look at the aloft winds’ strength.
What’s the Difference Between Headwinds and Tailwinds?
Knowing the difference between headwinds and tailwinds makes it easier to figure out how the winds may impact your flight. There are good reasons these terms are also used in business to describe unfavorable or favorable conditions.
Headwinds push against the head of the aircraft, resulting in slower movement and a longer flight time. Tailwinds, by contrast, blow in the flight direction, which creates favorable conditions by increasing the aircraft’s speed and making the flight time shorter.
What Altitude is Right for Your Flight Direction?
Your altitude also needs to conform to your direction of flight. When flying above 3,000 ft above ground level (AGL), you’ll need to add an odd or even +500 ft.
Whether you’re flying by visible flight rules (VFR) or instrument flight rules (IFR) also makes a difference. Flying VFR could mean an altitude of 5,000 ft, while IFR would mean an altitude of 6,000 ft on shorter flights.
Air pressure is also a factor in flight altitude. Because this is a factor that will change during longer flights, it is important for pilots to monitor everything accordingly.
Terrain clearance plays a role in air pressure, and pilots will need to address their air pressure settings accordingly. Once pilots reach a level known as flight level (FL), they can continue their journey without changes to their pressure levels.
Are There Possible Obstacles to Consider?
The terrain on your flight route could impact your cruising altitude, especially if flying VFR. Your sectional chart’s maximum elevation figure (MEF) could provide some guidance.
To find the MEF, look for the bold blue altitude appearing in each quadrant sectional. The altitude given will guarantee you at least 100 and up to 300 feet of clearance.
Can Your Plane Reach the Given Altitude?
Your flight distance will be an essential factor in this decision. Spending most of the flight in a climb is a waste of fuel and other resources.
A plane’s climb rate may drop substantially over 10,000 ft. You’ll have a slower airspeed and go through more fuel in the process.
This is especially through of piston engine planes. Turboprob planes tend to go higher. You can read more about this in our comparison of piston vs turboprop planes.
One thing that many pilots are unaware of is the role that lift plays in altitude. The lift, which the wings generate, is what actually makes flight possible, instead of the engines.
When thrust drives a plane forward, it is able to overcome drag that keeps the craft on the ground. With a lift more significant than the plane’s weight, the craft will be able to fly more easily.
Pilots can often take advantage of jet stream winds to reduce their flight time. However, most of these winds are also at lower levels, reducing the overall efficiency of the plane.
What Airspace Problems Could You Encounter?
You might encounter every type of airspace, from controlled to special-use, on your sectional chart. Checking tools like ForeFlight can help you discover which types of airspace are along your route that you need to keep in mind.
If restricted airspace is not along your route, you might opt to climb above the airspace, which is an issue. However, you will need to make sure this is an option, considering this Cessna model’s low maximum altitude.
What If You Encounter Restricted Airspace?
There are 500 areas in the United States alone defined as restricted airspace. Some of the activities that take place in areas with restricted airspace include:
- Missile launches
- Artillery firing
- Air combat training
Restricted airspace may also be in place over larger military installations. Pilots will need to take care not to venture into these areas without the proper clearance.
Airspace may also be subject to restrictions as the government determines. This designation would be most likely to be put in place by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
To fly in a Restricted area, you’ll need permission from the using or controlling agency. This permission always needs to be coordinated ahead of time.
Flying through Restricted airspace without permission won’t have a good outcome. Although there might be exceptions where you can get permission without advance warning if the Restricted area is unused, you might face serious consequences otherwise.
If you’re flying IFR, air traffic control (ATC) can help you bypass the Restricted area. In the event you’re given clearance to fly through the Restricted area, you’ll be able to do so without getting a special clearance.
Cloud Coverage Could Come Into Play
While the Cessna 172 has a relatively low cost, this leads to cloud coverage and altitude making a difference in how high you can cruise.
Flying above a few scattered clouds is usually safe, while staying below broken layers is generally better.
When you check the height of your cloud bases, you’ll need to remember that they are listed in AGL instead of mean sea level (MSL). To maintain a VFR clearance, you’ll need to know the measurements of these bases.
Will Turbulence Be an Issue?
Shear layers aloft can almost guarantee encountering turbulence on a flight. These layers are as important as the headwinds and tailwinds.
Although turbulence can be a significant annoyance, the chances of a crash attributed to this factor are very low. Understanding your plane’s limitations will go a long way.
Selecting your route according to favorable winds aloft will guarantee a smoother ride. Any passengers you might have will thank you!
Summary
Although an ideal cruising altitude for a Cessna 172 is 4,500-9,500 ft, depending on the flight length. However, different factors must be taken into account when determining your ideal altitude.
