Quote:
Originally Posted by Murdoughnut  Here's a situation I faced the other night - I want to know if I was in the wrong so I can avoid the same thing in the future.
About 40-miles from the field, Approach clears me to descend at my discretion and report the field in site. Since I was in a 172 at 4,500ft, I decided to begin a slow descent when I was about 20 miles out, which I did. At 11 miles out, I reported field in site, and ATC asked me if I had begun descending. I reported that I had, and was descending through 3,000 feet. The controller made the comment "well that's good to know" and seemed frustrated that I had begun my descent.
I didn't realize that I had to report my descent when I was cleared to descend at my discretion. It was the same controller the whole time. Was I win the wrong? |
You don't need to report altitude changes when operating VFR, however if receiving advisories from ATC you should keep in mind that the controller is basing his/her traffic advisories off of your aircraft.
So if last radio transmission had you at a certain altitude and then you decide to descend with adivisng ATC it tends to makes the controller's job more difficult.
Remember that VFR advisories are workload permitting, so I find it good professional courtesy to give ATC a hand whenever you can.