---
title: "SERA.5025 IFR — Rules applicable to IFR flights outside controlled airspace — ANNEX: Rules of the Air, SERA · Avioverse"
description: "Cruising levels An IFR flight operating in level cruising flight outside of controlled airspace shall be flown at a cruising level appropriate to its…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/sera/annex-rules-of-the-air/section-5/sera-5025"
---

# SERA.5025 IFR — Rules applicable to IFR flights outside controlled airspace

ANNEX: Rules of the Air · Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

IR Implementing rule

## SERA.5025 IFR — Rules applicable to IFR flights outside controlled airspace

(a) Cruising levels

An [IFR flight](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/ifr-flight) operating in [level](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/level) cruising flight outside of [controlled airspace](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/controlled-airspace) shall be flown at a [cruising level](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/cruising-level) appropriate to its [track](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/track) as specified in the table of cruising levels in Appendix 3, except when otherwise specified by the [competent authority](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/competent-authority) for flight at or below 900 m (3 000 ft) above mean sea level.

(b) Communications

An IFR flight operating outside controlled airspace but within or into areas, or along routes, designated by the competent authority in accordance with SERA.4001(b)(3) or (4) shall maintain an air-ground voice communication watch on the appropriate communication channel and establish two-way communication, as necessary, with the [air traffic](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/air-traffic) services unit providing [flight information service](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/flight-information-service).

(c) Position reports

An IFR flight operating outside controlled airspace and required by the competent authority to maintain an air-ground voice communication watch on the appropriate communication channel and establish two-way communication, as necessary, with the air traffic services unit providing flight information service, shall report position, as specified in SERA.8025 for controlled flights.

IR · SERA.5025 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ​Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

GM Guidance material

## GM1 SERA.5025(a) IFR — Rules applicable to IFR flights outside controlled airspace

CRUISING LEVELS

Although an [IFR flight](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/ifr-flight) operating in [level](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/level) cruising flight outside [controlled airspace](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/controlled-airspace) is to be flown at a [cruising level](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/cruising-level) appropriate to its [track](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/track), as specified in the table of cruising levels, this does not preclude the use of [cruise climb](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/cruise-climb) techniques.

GM · GM1 SERA.5025(a) — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ED Decision 2013/013/R · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

GM Guidance material

## GM1 SERA.5025(c) IFR — Rules applicable to IFR flights outside controlled airspace

POSITION REPORTS

[Aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) electing to use the [air traffic advisory service](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/air-traffic-advisory-service) whilst operating under [IFR](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/ifr) within specified [advisory airspace](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/advisory-airspace) are expected to comply with the provisions of ‘Section 8 — [Air traffic Control Service](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/air-traffic-control-service)’, except that the [flight plan](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/flight-plan) and changes thereto are not subject to clearances and that two-way communication will be maintained with the unit providing the air traffic advisory service.

GM · GM1 SERA.5025(c) — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ED Decision 2013/013/R · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

[All rules in SECTION 5 Visual meteorological conditions, visual flight rules, special VFR and instrument flight rules](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/sera/annex-rules-of-the-air/section-5)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 26 Aug 2025, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.