Pilot's discretion, descend to FL240

Merlin · August 22nd, 2006, 01:08

When we're cruising along in the upper flight levels, for example, and are given discretion to descend to something lower, say 240, does ATC really care that we let you know when we begin the descent?

In recurrent, we have been told that it is not a required communication, however, I have had a few CA's run me up and down the rails for not communicating that to ATC. Is it required? Does it help you do your job?

Thanks,
Jeremy

TonyC · August 22nd, 2006, 01:35

Mandatory Report:

Vacating a previously assigned altitude.

.

desertdog71 · August 22nd, 2006, 01:37

I was under the impression it was required, but I am just a C172 CA.

Dugie8 · August 22nd, 2006, 01:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyC

Mandatory Report:

Vacating a previously assigned altitude.

.

I do it all the time and surprisingly I get a lot of funny looks from Captains

DE727UPS · August 22nd, 2006, 02:57

Personally, I think it's a waste of radio time and could care less.

What do the controllers think?

daveatc · August 22nd, 2006, 06:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

Personally, I think it's a waste of radio time and could care less.

What do the controllers think?

It's required and, on top of that, it's very helpful. As soon as you report out of that FL, it becomes useable to us. Operating in a radar environment, it's not quite as important (although still required in the regs) as I can see your altitude readout and know you're descending. However, maybe you go through a sector with a radar outage and they're working non-radar. We definitely need that report. A lot of times we'll say "descend at pilot's discretion. Maintain FL240. Report leaving FL280 (or report passing FL270)." In that case, you can sort of tell that they're trying to put someone else there, or they may be handing the availability of that altitude to another controller working planes on another freq that you don't even know about. Heck, I used to do it at a small Class D airport I worked at. We had a lot of overflights, so if I had inbound traffic I would tell the inbounds to report passing 1500 so I could take the overflights through at 2000 without having to worry. Some say it's overkill, but it works when you really need it to! Especially when your DBRITE goes out and the haze is setting in so it's tough to see all the players.

Let the Captains look at you funny. Keep on doing it.