So, im just flying on the J6 towards Cincinnati and there is an Alt Restriction to FL320 on parts of that route. P2A knows that there is a restriction and it even plans with the restriction yet the ATC voice is nagging me to climb to FL360 anyway. How do you get P2A to understand that there are step alts?

 

Set your initial cruise altitude in P2ATC to that altitude, then when you need to step ask ATC for higher.

e.g. initial climb is FL320 set this as your altitude during setup. Then later during flight while at your restriction of FL320 ask ATC "blah blah requesting climb to FLxxx". You should then get clearance to your new level as long as you have cleared the restriction waypoint.

Also make sure you are using the latest version, I believe there was a bug involving restrictions at one point. I posted a similar issue a while back and I've not see it again since updating to 2.6.0.0_x63_R3.

Version number is in the title bar when running P2ATC.

Edited August 11, 20196 yr by Andydigital

On 8/11/2019 at 2:34 PM, Andydigital said:

Set your initial cruise altitude in P2ATC to that altitude, then when you need to step ask ATC for higher.

e.g. initial climb is FL320 set this as your altitude during setup. Then later during flight while at your restriction of FL320 ask ATC "blah blah requesting climb to FLxxx". You should then get clearance to your new level as long as you have cleared the restriction waypoint.

Well, that would be a work around I guess...but shouldn't ATC just give me a "Climb and maintain FL320" clearance if the program knows the restrictions exist or is this a case where ATC can just give me clearance to FL360 and then I can climb to FL360, no question asked, no matter the restrictions?

This is interesting:

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap4_section_4.html

Section a says clearance by ATC "IS NOT AUTHORIZATION FOR A PILOT TO DEVIATE FROM ANY RULE, REGULATION, OR MINIMUM ALTITUDE NOR TO CONDUCT UNSAFE OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT."

then section b says: " If ATC issues a clearance that would cause a pilot to deviate from a rule or regulation, or in the pilot's opinion, would place the aircraft in jeopardy, IT IS THE PILOT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST AN AMENDED CLEARANCE."

So, does P2A allow / implement this?

Note, looking further, i find this discussion on AVSIM where the above 'rules' seem to be contadicted, at least as far as SID "ceilings"

 

The last post on that thread does qualify it somewhat:

"On an SID, if ATC tells you to climb, usually it means you can climb, however, ATC is supposed to say "unrestricted" to lift any ambiguity, so it is better to double check."

I would have thought descents would be far more critical. It's up to the PIC to keep the aircraft flying safely, and many lower altitude restrictions are for proper ground clearance and avoidance of encroaching on other designated paths.

Pete