In the US, the transition altitude is standardized at 18,000ft, however in Europe it is different for every airport.

Why is it not standardized like it is in the US? I could see situations where someone has their altimeter calibrated differently, and thus giving different altimeter readings, which would seem dangerous, especially for smaller GA aircraft that might not have TCAS?

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    $\begingroup$ It seems that there is US and Canada in one side, and "Europe and much of the rest of the world" one the other side. Quite strange given that feet is used because of the US influence $\endgroup$ – Manu H Nov 30 '16 at 14:51
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    $\begingroup$ For starters, US is a country, Europe is not. $\endgroup$ – DeltaLima Nov 30 '16 at 15:13
  • $\begingroup$ Can you give an example where non-standard transition altitude would be a problem? $\endgroup$ – user6035379 Nov 30 '16 at 16:46
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    $\begingroup$ TA is not "different for every airport". Some countries have a common TA used throughout the country, others have defined areas within which a certain TA is used. $\endgroup$ – expeditedescent Nov 30 '16 at 18:41
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    $\begingroup$ @lightbord That generally won't happen, because TA's don't change any where near large airports. Even so, air traffic controllers know how to handle this, and will have procedures to ensure vertical separation in areas with different TA's. $\endgroup$ – expeditedescent Nov 30 '16 at 20:07

You're right that having a common transition altitude is better- efforts are underway in Europe to set a common transition altitude. Multiple studies have been carried out by Eurocontrol and it has been noted that it is better to have a single transition altitude. For example, from an aircrew prespective:

The multiplicity of transition altitudes and the national rules and procedures make the European environment very complex. This can lead to a lack of altitude awareness and altimeter mis-settings and is operationally unsatisfactory.


Establishment of a common transition altitude has a clear safety benefit.

Similarly, from the ATC perspective:

The establishment of a common TA for ECAC States and the EUR Region is a fundamental element in achieving the goal of a unified sky and the safety policy of reducing risks to the greatest degree practicable.

The reason such an unsatisfactory state of affairs have persisted is that people have become used to that- the second document makes that point:

ATC providers, as is human nature, grow comfortable with what they are most familiar.

The main reason is that there is no requirement for any common transition altitude. The relevant ICAO document simply states: A transition altitude shall normally be specified for each aerodrome by the State in which the aerodrome is located

and As far as possible, a common transition altitude should be established: ...

As a common transition altitude is not exactly a requirement (in-spite of its advantages) different European states have historically established their own TAs, to be decided by the aerodromes or the regulatory authorities.

As they have become comfortable using it (and no major accidents have happened because of this), there is no serious move towards the establishment of a common transition altitude (through arguably, this is the case with much of the world- common transition altitude is not that common). In the UK, CAA has launched a consultation process to raise the transition altitude to 18,000 ft, which notes that,

... it has been agreed that the TA in the UK will be raised to 18,000ft.

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  • $\begingroup$ 'A common transition altitude is better' better than what, and for whom? I am not sure it is. $\endgroup$ – DeltaLima Nov 30 '16 at 16:00
  • $\begingroup$ @DeltaLima better for avoiding confusion among pilots and ATC. Say you're in an area where the TA is 7000ft, and moving into an area where it is 7500ft. You're at FL70, but due to a severe pressure your actual altitude is 7600ft. Now you report in "blahblah with you FL70", ATC is confused as they see you at FL75. $\endgroup$ – jwenting Dec 1 '16 at 10:01
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    $\begingroup$ @jwenting If you are FL070, ATC will not see you at FL075, but perhaps at 7500ft. But that is not my point. Take for example the Netherlands: maximum elevation is approximately 1000ft AMSL, the highest obstacle is approx. 1500ft AMSL. The transition height is 3000ft for IFR, 3500ft for VFR. The aircraft in your example would both be flying at standard pressure setting. If the transition altitude would be raised to 18 000ft, both aircraft may have had different settings if the pressure in the area's would differ. A higher TA would cause more workload and more potential for errors. $\endgroup$ – DeltaLima Dec 1 '16 at 11:16

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