Cruise clearance

ATC can assign altitudes that are wrong for direction of flight.

This is true. The "East is least and West is best" only applies to VFR
flight. A good example is when I was flying East at 6000 and ATC instructed
me to climb to 7000. I was IFR at the time. I started picking up ice at
7000 and requested "lower". ATC then cleared me back down to 6000, not 5000
which they could have.

"Bill Gamelson" wrote in
om:

ATC can assign altitudes that are wrong for direction of flight.

This is true. The "East is least and West is best" only applies to
VFR flight. A good example is when I was flying East at 6000 and ATC
instructed me to climb to 7000. I was IFR at the time. I started
picking up ice at 7000 and requested "lower". ATC then cleared me
back down to 6000, not 5000 which they could have.




The hemispheric rule applies to IFR also, but only in uncontrolled airspace
(class G).

Bill Gamelson wrote:

ATC can assign altitudes that are wrong for direction of flight.


This is true. The "East is least and West is best" only applies to VFR
flight. A good example is when I was flying East at 6000 and ATC instructed
me to climb to 7000. I was IFR at the time. I started picking up ice at
7000 and requested "lower". ATC then cleared me back down to 6000, not 5000
which they could have.



And IFR in uncontrolled airspace.

Matt

Hankal wrote:
How many times do you get a cruise clearance. Ever get "unable"
Lets say the cloud layers are 4000 to 5200. You are cleared to 5000, but want
to climb to 5300 or above. Is it possible to get a "cruise" clearance to stay
above the layers? What about over class B?

I agree with the others who say a request for a block altitude is more
appropriate to the circumstances. A cruise clearance is an implied clearance to
descend at will and an implied approach clearance at the destination, and the
controller may not be ready to give you that much latitude. A block altitude is
a much less demanding request and gets you what you want.

In answer to your specific question: I have been given a cruise clearance
exactly once, in Ohio on a Sunday, inbound to a small non-towered airport.

Further to your specific question: On another occasion, I requested a cruise
clearance, and was told "unable". That was inbound to Ocracoke Island (W95),
where the radar and comm coverage at low altitudes is practically non-existent.
In that case I happened to be able to find VMC where I could descend.

I don't understand the class B part of the question. Please clarify the question
if you're still looking for an answer.

Dave
Remove SHIRT to reply directly.

(Hankal) wrote in
:

How many times do you get a cruise clearance. Ever get
"unable" Lets say the cloud layers are 4000 to 5200. You
are cleared to 5000, but want to climb to 5300 or above. Is
it possible to get a "cruise" clearance to stay above the
layers? What about over class B?

A cruise clearance won't let you do this. What you want is a
VFR-on-top clearance. A cruise clearance gives you the altitude
you're cleared to cruise, plus all altitudes *below* that, plus
clearance for the approach of your choice at your destination.
VFR on top clears you for any VFR altitude, on top of the
clouds.

--
Regards,

Stan

"Stan Gosnell" me@work wrote in message
...

A cruise clearance won't let you do this. What you want is a
VFR-on-top clearance.


If the clouds are 4000 to 5200 and he's eastbound VFR-on-top would require
him to climb to 7500. If he just wants to get above the clouds a block
altitude of 5000 to 6000 would do the trick.

"Stan Gosnell" me@work wrote in message
...
(Hankal) wrote in
:

How many times do you get a cruise clearance. Ever get
"unable" Lets say the cloud layers are 4000 to 5200. You
are cleared to 5000, but want to climb to 5300 or above. Is
it possible to get a "cruise" clearance to stay above the
layers? What about over class B?

A cruise clearance won't let you do this. What you want is a
VFR-on-top clearance. A cruise clearance gives you the altitude
you're cleared to cruise, plus all altitudes *below* that, plus
clearance for the approach of your choice at your destination.
VFR on top clears you for any VFR altitude, on top of the
clouds.


You don't have to be on top of all the clouds, or any clouds for that
matter. You just need to be VFR.

"Hankal" wrote in message
...

How many times do you get a cruise clearance. Ever get "unable"
Lets say the cloud layers are 4000 to 5200. You are cleared to
5000, but want to climb to 5300 or above. Is it possible to get
a "cruise" clearance to stay above the layers?


What do you mean by "cleared to 5000"? Do you mean you've been cleared to
"cruise 5000" while at a higher assigned altitude? Or do you mean you're at
5000 and want to climb above the clouds?

A cruise clearance does not allow you to climb above your present altitude.
If you want a higher altitude, ask for a higher altitude.

A cruise clearance does not allow you to climb above your present altitude.
If you want a higher altitude, ask for a higher altitude.


No? What about I'm assigned 5000, and I'm level at 5000. I request a "cruise
7000" and am granted that request. ("347FB cruise seven thousand").

1: is this an improper request? (never mind whether it will accomplish what
anybody thinks I want to accomplish)

2: Is it improper to give me "347FB cruise seven thousand" when I'm level at
5000?

3: If the answer to the above are "no", then how do I get to 7000 without
climbing? (and without drugs)

Jose

--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

"Teacherjh" wrote in message
...

No?


No.



What about I'm assigned 5000, and I'm level at 5000. I request
a "cruise 7000" and am granted that request. ("347FB cruise
seven thousand").


Why would you request a descent and approach clearance if all you wanted was
to climb from 5000 to 7000? If you want a higher altitude, ask for a higher
altitude.



1: is this an improper request? (never mind whether it will
accomplish what anybody thinks I want to accomplish)


Yes.



2: Is it improper to give me "347FB cruise seven thousand" when
I'm level at 5000?


Yes.



3: If the answer to the above are "no", then how do I get to
7000 without climbing? (and without drugs)


Regardless of the answer to the above, you cannot get to 7000 from 5000
without climbing. If you want to get from 5000 to 7000 then request 7000,
don't request a descent and approach clearance.

I advise you to get off the drugs.