Could someone please advise what course of action I should take with the foll flight plan - only from DCT RESIA/N0464F290…(sorry…ToC was FL350)
First, am I required to be at FL290 at or after RESIA (or before?)
If not then…
LISTO L612 HON L15 MOTOX UL15 LESDO UG42 LUVAL UM164 EPL UN491 BEGAR DCT ELMUR DCT RESIA/N0464F290 P131 ADOSA L612 ALBET
thanks anyone
You need to provide the SID/STAR you are using, as well as the origin and destination airport so we can see the altitude restrictions.
But to answer your question.
If ATC is online (assuming VATSIM, PilotEdge, Etc…) They will give you your clearance to descend and to what altitude.
Typically, as you approach your TOD they will give you something like “descend to xxx at your discretion”
Meaning, you are cleared to descend to that altitude when you are ready, Then they will continue to give you descend clearances along the way.
If you are getting close to TOD and they haven’t given you clearance yet, you can request it.
If you are on Unicom, then just follow the SID / STAR and use your callouts, descending according to the restrictions on the chart.
AIRPORT X traffic this is XYZ FL350 starting descent into AIRPORT X via the XYZ arrival for ILS 11
Thanks. Greatly apprec response.
I guess I was referring more to a mid flight, FL change which this was. However the full flight was EGCC-LIPZ and the plan on Simbrief was as follows:
EGCC/05L N0461F350 LIST2S LISTO L612 HON L15 MOTOX UL15 LESDO UG42 LUVAL UM164 EPL UN491 BEGAR DCT ELMUR DCT RESIA/N0464F290 P131 ADOSA L612 ALBET ALBE2E LIPZ/04R
This plan gets sent to Vatsim, so I guess they are then aware of the FL change. In the 737 FMC, the ToD was calculated after RESIA. So from the plan above,my question really is what does RESIA/N0464F290 imply? should I be at 290 AT RESIA, or descend to 290 AFTER RESIA, not withstanding the ToD point.
Vatsim wasn’t online in this area last night, but if they were, would they expect me to descend during the flight (requesting first), or is the FL change in the plan irrelevant to them?
Ah okay, I see what you’re saying (with the full plan).
Basically, you’re going to cruise at FL350 and then descend to FL290 at Resia. You would stay at FL290 until your TOD.
As to your original question with COMs, on VATSIM you would request permission to leave FL350 for 290, or they would tell you.
If on Unicom, just state your current position and altitude and that you are leaving FL350 for 290.
As to why that restriction is there, I’m not sure.
Does your flight plan in the FMS have you ascend back to FL350 after that way point? Or does it leave you there until TOD?
Hi Skypilot
I’d say the fltplan simply selects the best levels for winds, though the wind chart within it showed negligible difference at various levels. No, there was no return to FL350. If anything, a lighter weight may encourage climbing during the route, not descending. Just wondering if I am EXPECTED to climb or wouldn’t Vatsim ATC worry about it?
No you wouldn’t be expected to climb, you would get instructions or request instructions to descend to that altitude and then stay there until TOD.
I actually found the restriction in the charts it’s for the L612 Airway.
L612 has a top altitude of about FL240 on most days, so they get you down to FL290 in preparation for that.
OK…makes sense. So I would follow the flight plan essentially and request the lower level at the appropriate time (if I wanted to).
A related quick question to you too…in ‘N0461F350’ what does N signify? I know its the planned speed, but why N?
In the ICAO flight plan speed block, K is reserved for km/h, M for Mach, and N for knots.
OK…thanks. Knew it was but not sure why!!
