Descending to cross a fix

[citabriapilot]

If ATC issues a crossing restriction on a terminal arrival and then issues a heading off of the arrival, is it expected that the pilot maintain a specific rate of descent? In other words, must we continue at the rate of descent required to make the restriction or does the descent rate now become pilots discretion?

[DE727UPS]

If you're given a heading, the restriction doesn't apply. When they put you back on the arrival, they need to restate any restrictions they want you to meet.

[citabriapilot]

That makes sense...

In regards to my original question, here's the actual scenario:

Take a look at the Bowie 9 arrival for DFW. The controller originally issued "cleared direct Bowie, Bowie 9 arrival, descend to cross BOIDS at and maintain 7000"

Along the way the controller issues a heading to join the Maverick 310 radial, Bowie 9 arrival. I would assume the crossing restriction still stands, since BOIDS is on the 310 radial from Maverick. However, if the heading issued doesn't intercept you till AFTER BOIDS, what do they expect?

[DE727UPS]

I'm not looking at the chart but if they reclear you for the arrival after the heading, any mandatory speeds/altitudes still apply (you know that, I'm preachin' to the choir).

I can't speak to your question for sure, as it's something I've been faced with and kinda wondered myself. But, I think you'd have a good case if ATC vectored you off the arrival and then gave you a bad time for not making a restriction that was on the arrival.

I can't quote chapter and verse on that, though.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by citabriapilot

However, if the heading issued doesn't intercept you till AFTER BOIDS, what do they expect?

The few times this has happened I've queried them. Chances are they will just add 5-10 degrees to your heading.

Everyone wins that way .

[BobDDuck]

The few times that's happen they normally have given a "cross abeam XXX" restriction. The Collins FMS has a nifty little feature that will draw a line from the fix to the abeam point on your route. There is a purple bottom of descent point (the banana) that tells you when you will level. All you have to do is put the banana on the abeam point and you are golden

[Dugie8]

Most of the time when there is a fix on an arrival that has a published crossing restriction (or even and EXPECT) and you are taken off the arival, I would get cross XX miles west/east/north/south of the navaid that made up the fix. XX miles was always within a mile or two of the distance of the fix. The Bunts arrival into PHL over JST is where this happened the most.