Ok, this should probably be obvious but I had to clarify my understanding still.I was cleared by RC to descend and maintain from FL270 to 17000 ft. As I descended through 19000 ft, the controller switched me over to another sector, who then gave me pilot's discretion to 13000 ft. Question: with PD to 13000 ft in the above situation, would I have needed to level off at 17000 ft (per my original clearance from the other sector), BEFORE my PD to 13000 ft, or would I be clear to maintain my current altitude of 19000 ft with my new PD to 13000 ft? I understand that my current controller supersedes any previous one in regard to clearances, but I was a little confused at to the correct procedure with PD descent in this situation. My current understanding is that I could have leveled off at 19000 ft after my new PD clearance, and then descend to 13000 ft at my discretion. Thanks!

From the excellent RC manual:On Low

Hi Dave,A new instruction from ATC superseds the previous instruction. So in this case you will ok to level at 19000ft, until you were ready for further decsent. Basically, when the controller gave you PD to 13000, it cancels any previous vertical profile assignments given (such as the initial clearance to 17000).If the controller wanted you to go down to 17000 before PDing to 13000, he would have said something to the effect "Continue decsent to 17000, then PD to 13000".Or that's my understanding anyway, I'm sure one of the r/w controllers/pilots will chime in here. If I'm wrong, I'll need to go back to ground school ;o)Subs