This is how #flightlevels really function in aviation!

Looks complicated? Yes this is how really function in aviation :)

It may seem complicated, but let me break it down for you, but who am I to do it, I am a student pilot and an avid aviation enthusiast.

There are four things to consider when it comes how high a plane is during flight:

Flight altitude: This is based on the airport sector you are in and the pressure at that airport. The pressure (QNH) matters during takeoff and landing, but all planes need to show altitude relative to the airport for local coordination by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to be easy. Ohh and most visual flight will never leave this. In business, teams in the same product/context need to be coordinated and have similar information to take off with the correct configuration to land. They also need to coordinate with others who are flying in the area.

Transition altitude: This is the altitude after which you will change your pressure setting to a standard 1013.25. This is a global standard because long-range flying happens at this altitude, and they want to maintain the cruising altitude to be the same all over. Communication with ATC and radar/transit frequencies is important here. In business, when working on long-term goals, communication is important for a smooth ride towards the long-term objectives. Having similar conditions helps to make correct decisions. This is fixed for the local area.

Flight level: Now you are flying long distance, and all aircraft have the same pressure setting of 1013.25. This means that they are all connected to coordination/radar frequencies. When you want to land somewhere, there is coordination with approach frequencies and ATC. In business, we need less local context and more coordination for long-term projects. Having the same configuration helps to make correct decisions.

Transition level: When you want to land at an airport, you don’t need to coordinate with other planes on long cruises. However, you can’t just change since you are still in the same space with them. Each area defines a level after which you join flight altitude with the pressure of the local airport for coordination with planes landing and taking off from that specific airport. In business, when translating a project from long-term to short-term, we need to adjust the information and coordination. This is a dynamic level based on actual pressure in the area. Note : 2 and 4 together make a Transition layer, another term you will see on image :)

But did you know what's the most important thing of all? It's knowledge, skills, and processes/procedures. All pilots and controllers have the same set of knowledge on how these elevations work, along with skills and abilities to fly their own type of aircraft. They all learn the same processes and procedures and speak the same language when it comes to elevations. They have a guide on which frequencies to use and how to talk to each other.

You can use any modelling tool, be it or or other, but what you can’t miss is knowledge, skills for the task, and processes and procedures to make more or less integration, ensuring working becomes coordinated.

Having said this will you like to design your operating model in way to support those cruise and short flights? Ping me!

That's just my 5 cents. Let me know your thoughts.