Quote:
Originally Posted by TFaudree_ERAU  For some reason, it REALLY annoys me when ATC says "descend to cross xxx at xxx" and I read it back and then 3 seconds later after starting the descent the captain says "tell em we're out of xxx for xxx".
They JUST gave us the authorization to descend whenever we want, as long as we make the crossing restriction. Obviously, there is no conflicting traffic ahead, otherwise they would have added some other instruction along with the "cross" clearance, such as "descend and maintain xxx, then cross xxx at xxx". I feel that with the frequency congestion that we all experience every day, there is no need to add anything to it. Remember, for everything you say on the radio, a controller probably has to reply. |
Here is where experience and teamwork come into play. If I am the Pilot Not Flying when we receive a crossing restriction or a discretionary descent, I will usually know if we are in a position where either an immediate descent is warranted, or if we can stay at altitude for a while longer, or if we are in an area where the PF could make the call either way. As ATC is making the initial call my first move is to the altitude preselect to dial in the new altitude at the same time that I am turning and looking directly at the PF. The PF will usually give some kind of an indication if he is planning to start down immediately, either by simply pointing down (in response to my looking at him, in effect asking the question "what is your plan?"), or he will be reaching for the appropriate autopilot mode selector to start the descent. With either one of those cues I will be replying to ATC with something like "N12345 vacating FL320, discretion FL240" or "N12345 vacating FL320, SHARR FL240". Short, to the point, and includes the information that we are leaving an altitude. If the PF has made no indication that he plans to start down immediately, or signals that he is staying put for the moment (hand flat, moving side to side), or if he reaches for the FMS to do some calculation to decide when to start down I will simply reply to ATC with "N12345 discretion FL 240" or "SHARR at FL240, N12345." Then when we
do begin our descent I will call ATC with "N12345 leaving FL320", unless the frequency is so busy that I can't easily make the transmission (actually a pretty rare occurrence, even on the east coast).
It's all about teamwork and CRM. With experience a good team can easily communicate their intentions to each other before ATC is done with the original transmission.