41. On long-haul flights, the pilot may ask air traffic control to climb from one flight level to a higher one. 42. Shortly after take off, Flight 981 was cleared to flight level 230 ( ) and started turning the west towards London. 43. The aircraft climbed to the cruising altitude of Flight level 240 ( approximately 24, 000 ft / 7, 315 m ). 44. If we return to pre-Sept . 11 flight levels , they would have a positive return on their investment, " he said. 45. The rules covering the altitudes that aircraft fly at to avoid collisions are complicated : Flight level covers it moderately well. 46. One minute after this communication, Prinair Flight 277 was asked to go to flight level 3, or and prepare for landing. 47. They create six new flight levels for airliners cruising at high altitude by reducing the minimum vertical distance required between planes. 48. The pilot then requested to climb to flight level 380, which was deferred by ATC because of other aircraft in the vicinity. 49. Burning fuel decreases the weight of an aircraft which may then choose to increase its flight level to further improve fuel consumption. 50. When pilots refer to " flight level 24, " they mean an altitude of 24, 000 feet ( 7, 300 meters ).
