Cruise Clearance

[PIEDMONT]

Greetings to all:

What are the pros and cons of a "cruise clearance"? This is a clearance that I am looking for some clarity on.

Thanks to all.

[GaTechKid]

The significance of a cruise clearance is that you may operate at any altitude, from the minimum IFR altitude up to and including the altitude specified in the clearance. You do not have to report a change in altitude to ATC, however if you do report leaving an altitude then you cannot climb back up to that altitude without obtaining another ATC clearance. The cruise clearance also authorizes you to proceed to and execute an approach into the destination airport, which means that ATC will not issue a separate approach clearance at the destination airport when you have been issued a cruise clearance.

[PIEDMONT]

If you do not have to report a change in altitude and start decending, will ATC see that I am decending and automatically issue a traffic advisory if traffic is below me is on a similiar course?

[SteveC]

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If you do not have to report a change in altitude and start decending, will ATC see that I am decending and automatically issue a traffic advisory if traffic is below me is on a similiar course?

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There won't be any (IFR) traffic below you. If there were, you wouldn't get a Cruise Clearance. VFR traffic you are on the hook to "see-and-avoid" (like always).

Also, you may not even be in radar coverage. Cruise clearances are a lot more likely way out in the boonies where there isn't much traffic and not much expected, and often radar coverage is slim or non-existent.

Hmmm.....I say that like I know what I'm talking about, but I've never received a cruise clearance. I wonder how often they are used these days, and if they are, where they are used?

[PIEDMONT]

Thanks for the response. The point you made about ATC wouldn't issue clearance if traffic was in your area is logical.I guess I would just need to watch for the scud runners when the ceiling is at VFR mins.

[SteveC]

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.....I guess I would just need to watch for the scud runners when the ceiling is at VFR mins.

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You always want to do that as you break out on an approach to an uncontrolled field. Never know who's going to be tooling around, with or without a radio....

[flyguy]

My instructor was issued a cruise clearance once, and he chose to cruise right on top of the cloud layer. That must have sweeeeeeet!!