VFR cruising altitudes (semicircular rule)
In level cruise above 3,000 ft AGL your altitude depends on your direction (CAR 602.34). Splitting east from west keeps opposite traffic at least 1,000 ft apart; VFR then adds 500 ft to the IFR thousands so VFR and IFR on the same track never share an altitude:
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Track 000–179° (easterly): odd thousands + 500 → 3,500 / 5,500 / 7,500 / 9,500.
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Track 180–359° (westerly): even thousands + 500 → 4,500 / 6,500 / 8,500 / 10,500.
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Goes by your magnetic track (in Southern Domestic Airspace; true track in the Northern Domestic Airspace, CAR 602.34(1)), not your heading, so apply variation first. Track is the actual path you trace over the ground.
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Applies only above 3,000 ft AGL and in level cruise. Below that, or while climbing or descending, it does not bind.
Trap: reading the wrong side of the 180° split, or dropping the +500 (quoting a whole thousand).
References
- CARs 602.34