Confusion about when it's my navigation, and when it's ATC

On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 15:35:41 +0100, Mxsmanic
wrote in :

I fly [MS FlightSimulator] from KLAX to KLAS, using the FMC to handle most of the flight.
With the routing I put in, the FMC decides on some default altitudes
and includes required altitudes for the arrival and departure
procedures I select. Part of what it does is to create a descent
schedule from the nominal cruise altitude to the arrival procedure.

So I leave KLAX and my last explicit instruction from ATC is "climb
and maintain FL290," which is my programmed and filed cruise altitude.
Now, my question is this: If the FMC has a programmed descent in its
route, do I let the FMC start the descent where it sees fit, or do I
force the aircraft to maintain FL290 until ATC explicitly clears me
for my own navigation or for a lower altitude?

Above 18,000' is Class A airspace. It's also called positive control
airspace; you won't get a "resume own navigation" instruction in Class
A airspace.

You can request lower from ATC, but until you are given a new
altitude, you must maintain that for which you are cleared.

And if ATC's last
instruction had simply been "resume own navigation" or "proceed as
filed," would that mean that I'd be free to begin the descent whenever
the FMC (or I) decides it's best?

No.

Consider reading the appropriate Aeronautical Information Manual
sections http://www.faa.gov/ATpubs/AIM/, so that you don't pose such
obviously ignorant questions to three newsgroups.

Larry Dighera writes:

Above 18,000' is Class A airspace. It's also called positive control
airspace; you won't get a "resume own navigation" instruction in Class
A airspace.

You can request lower from ATC, but until you are given a new
altitude, you must maintain that for which you are cleared.

OK. Does that apply to lateral navigation as well? Nobody seems to
object when I let the FMC follow the lateral course as filed (at least
during the en route phase of the flight).

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Mxsmanic,

Nobody seems to
object when I let the FMC follow the lateral course as filed


And who would, in a simulation? All the times I have played FS in a
multiplayer environment, the guys simulating ATC really had no clue at
all about how it is done in real life. They still made a big deal about
following the rules they themselves didn't understand, though.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Thomas Borchert writes:

And who would, in a simulation?

Air traffic controllers.

All the times I have played FS in a multiplayer environment, the guys
simulating ATC really had no clue at all about how it is done in real
life.

Did you give them the benefit of your superior knowledge? Which
networks did you use?

They still made a big deal about following the rules they
themselves didn't understand, though.

I hope you set them straight.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Mxsmanic,

And who would, in a simulation?

Air traffic controllers.


Then that would be a very bad simulation. Ah, more and more differences
to real life...

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

"Thomas Borchert" wrote in message
...
Mxsmanic,

And who would, in a simulation?

Air traffic controllers.


Then that would be a very bad simulation. Ah, more and more differences
to real life...

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)


Mxsmanic, Chief Pilot - Circle Jerk Airlines.

-------------------------------------
DW

"Darkwing" theducksmail"AT"yahoo.com wrote

Mxsmanic, Chief Pilot - Circle Jerk Airlines.

He doesn't care about sex, remember?

Personally, I think he has had his balls chopped off.
--
Jim in NC

On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 16:47:14 +0100, Mxsmanic
wrote in :

Larry Dighera writes:

Above 18,000' is Class A airspace. It's also called positive control
airspace; you won't get a "resume own navigation" instruction in Class
A airspace.

You can request lower from ATC, but until you are given a new
altitude, you must maintain that for which you are cleared.

OK. Does that apply to lateral navigation as well? Nobody seems to
object when I let the FMC follow the lateral course as filed (at least
during the en route phase of the flight).

Please consider doing your own research:

http://www.faa.gov/ATpubs/PCG/
RESUME OWN NAVIGATION- Used by ATC to advise a pilot to resume
his/her own navigational responsibility. It is issued after
completion of a radar vector or when radar contact is lost while
the aircraft is being radar vectored.

Larry Dighera writes:

OK. Does that apply to lateral navigation as well? Nobody seems to
object when I let the FMC follow the lateral course as filed (at least
during the en route phase of the flight).

Please consider doing your own research:

http://www.faa.gov/ATpubs/PCG/
RESUME OWN NAVIGATION- Used by ATC to advise a pilot to resume
his/her own navigational responsibility. It is issued after
completion of a radar vector or when radar contact is lost while
the aircraft is being radar vectored.

I don't see an answer to my question in that paragraph.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:09:26 +0100, Mxsmanic
wrote in :

Larry Dighera writes:

OK. Does that apply to lateral navigation as well? Nobody seems to
object when I let the FMC follow the lateral course as filed (at least
during the en route phase of the flight).

Please consider doing your own research:

http://www.faa.gov/ATpubs/PCG/
RESUME OWN NAVIGATION- Used by ATC to advise a pilot to resume
his/her own navigational responsibility. It is issued after
completion of a radar vector or when radar contact is lost while
the aircraft is being radar vectored.

I don't see an answer to my question in that paragraph.

I do.