Hi

I wish to make a step climb and am flying IFR. When I have asked for higher the flight level I have been given is far too high for the current weight of the plane. So my question is how do I ask for say a climb of 2,000ft?

Thanks

Nixon

Start with a lower initial altitude, then increase it as you go. You always can request a higher or lower FL in flight.

 

Example: I would start with a flight level of something like FL220. Then if i knew that my airplane could climb higher once some of the fuel has been burned, I would request from FS ATC climbs of 4,000 feet. Continue from there till you are at a level that is optimum.

 

Sorry, I'm not sure if VOX ATC operates in the same way.

Hi Eric

My flight planned alt was chosen to ensure that I could fly safely at that level. With fuel burn my optimum alt increased so I wished to climb to that only to be given by VOXATC an alt far higher than my max.

Regards

Nixon

just ask VoxATC the following (use the PTT):

"ELAL081 Request Flight level 280 (two-eight-zero)"

 

ELAL081 = your call sign

Flight Level 280 = is your desired Flight level step you want to reach once ready for the Step climb. this should be done

after you are already leveled at the original flight level your flight plan was submitted with (your filed FL).

 

I use this a lot not because of step climbing but due to the fact I load my flight plan with an estimated flight level, but

once I finish configuring the FMC details I get a more accurate "Trip Altitude" which in most cases very different then the filed one.

however VoxATC only knows about my filed FL and not about the one I want to be using (Trip altitude).

That is why I use this function and ask VoxATC for my desired FL once I reach my filed FL.

One could also use this function by asking VoxATC for a different FL due to weather, storms,etc. (that is why this function originally included in VoxATC I think).

 

if you try asking for the FL before you reached your filed FL, you will most probably be

responded with "unable at this time", don't know why, but this is what I see that happens to me.

Thanks Joel for your reply. Is there a way that I can get the FO to do that?

not that I know of, but we can take a look at the User's manual, maybe it is mentioned there.

what I usually do, I turn off FO (I binded a FO toggle key in VoxATC setting) just before I want to request my FL,

request my FL, then turn it on back again and FO returns back to normal.

Thanks once again I thought that may be the case.

Hi Joel

I tried what you suggested and again no luck so I emailed VOX and Tegwyn replied that in flight step climbs clearances are currently not possible but may be added in the future. Shame especially if you intend to do long flights.

Regards

Nixon