Cruise clearance

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?

(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?


If you know the tops are at 5200', then why not request 6000'? I have not
had an operational need for a cruise clearance. If I want to do some climbs
and descents for training, I often request a block altitude. You can
request 5000 block 6000. You can climb and descend in this block as you
please. In most cases I request a block clearance to put us in the clouds
than vice versa (again for training).

If you know the tops are at 5200', then why not request 6000'?

Would have to request 7000. Flying 090.
Since I am only 40 miles from the destination I just do not want to climb
another 2000 feet.

In article ,
(Hankal) wrote:

If you know the tops are at 5200', then why not request 6000'?

Would have to request 7000. Flying 090.
Since I am only 40 miles from the destination I just do not want to climb
another 2000 feet.

If your goal is to be able to fly at 5300, the most simple thing would
probably be to ask for a block altitude: "request 5000 block 6000". If
approved, this lets you fly at any altitude from 5000 to 6000
(inclusive).

A clearance of "cruise 6000" would let you do that same thing, but
unless you're in an area where cruise clearances are routinely issued,
it's unlikely the controller will be willing to give you that (mostly
because he probably doesn't remember the details of how it works any
more than I do).

I've been fairly successful getting an off-hemisphere altitude. Flying over
WV in December, I was flying west and had to climb through a 1500' broken layer to
beautiful VMC at 0 deg F.. I was cleared for 8000, but was hitting a few tops
(with light ice). I got 9000 so I didn't have to climb to 10 but wasn't in the IMC.
After 1/2 hour or so, the tops had droppend and I went back down to 8.

Depending on how busy they are, they may or may not do it. Another option in
your case would have been VFR on top at 5500? I guess that doesn't quite meet the
cloud clearance, though.

-Cory

Hankal wrote:
:If you know the tops are at 5200', then why not request 6000'?

: Would have to request 7000. Flying 090.
: Since I am only 40 miles from the destination I just do not want to climb
: another 2000 feet.

--
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* The prime directive of Linux: *
* - learn what you don't know, *
* - teach what you do. *
* (Just my 20 USm$) *
************************************************** ***********************

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:

If you know the tops are at 5200', then why not request 6000'?


Would have to request 7000. Flying 090.
Since I am only 40 miles from the destination I just do not want to climb
another 2000 feet.

No, you can request any whole altitude if you are IFR in controlled
airspace. Wouldn't be wise to fly a VFR altitude. I've had lots of
controller's assign me the "wrong" altitude for my direction of flight.


Matt

(Hankal) wrote in news:20040519095128.29731.00001621@mb-
m05.aol.com:

If you know the tops are at 5200', then why not request 6000'?

Would have to request 7000. Flying 090.
Since I am only 40 miles from the destination I just do not want to climb
another 2000 feet.


The hemispheric rule only applies to uncontrolled airspace. In controlled
airspace, you request what you want, and fly what you get.

(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

"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.