Procedure debate

[ksu_aviator]

“climb at pilot’s discretion” in the altitude information
of an ATC clearance, it means that you have the option
to start a climb when you wish, that you are authorized
to climb at any rate, and to temporarily level off at any
intermediate altitude as desired, although once you​

vacate an altitude, you may not return to that altitude.
http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aviation/instrument_procedures_handbook/media/CH-03.pdf

So if we accept that vacating an altitude is a required report, than the argument that you own the altitude is invalid. In the climb or decent, once you leave an altitude you can not return without a clearance.

 

[dhc8fo]

Because when you acknowledge the clearance, you are no longer flying at an assigned altitude.

I UNDERSTAND what you're saying, but just like the original question, WHERE do you see THAT written?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Not to be an azz either, but where do you guys find that just acknowledging the clearance suffices as the report?

Why wouldn't it!

You rec'd a clearance to descend and you acknowledged it. Done.

You can interpret the AIM all day, somewhere common sense has to apply.

Meanwhile, if you are still afraid to descend when cleared, just keep asking.

Id like to hear of any case where someone was questioned for descending without a courtesy call once CLEARED lower, PD or not.

whatever makes ya comfy. No big deal.

 

[K.V.]

I UNDERSTAND what you're saying, but just like the original question, WHERE do you see THAT written?

See what written?? That when you accept a new clearance you are no longer on your old clearance?

 

[Tristar]

Why wouldn't it!

You rec'd a clearance to descend and you acknowledged it. Done.

You can interpret the AIM all day, somewhere common sense has to apply.

Meanwhile, if you are still afraid to descend when cleared, just keep asking.

Id like to hear of any case where someone was questioned for descending without a courtesy call once CLEARED lower, PD or not.

whatever makes ya comfy. No big deal.

I've always taken it that this is EXACTLY the scenario when you would need to report vacating your last assigned altitude. Regarding common sense, under normal circumstances when would you ever leave your last assigned altitude without receiving and acknowledging the new clearance? If simply acknowledging the clearance covers is, why is that paragraph even in the AIM? There must be some reason for it to be there.

 

[K.V.]

I've always taken it that this is EXACTLY the scenario when you would need to report vacating your last assigned altitude. Regarding common sense, under normal circumstances when would you ever leave your last assigned altitude without receiving and acknowledging the new clearance? If simply acknowledging the clearance covers is, why is that paragraph even in the AIM? There must be some reason for it to be there.

Again, once you've accepted the PD clearance, the altitude you're flying at is no longer you last assigned altitude. From that point forward your last assigned altitude is the one the controller cleared you to descend to.

 

[GravityHater]

You know what, I am going to ask a controller what they expect, next flight and report back! In fact I will ask several different ones (I get a PD every flight)
K.V. I hear about these aim busts on various forums but do not have the resources to find a reference right now..can anyone else confirm?

 

[K.V.]

Regarding common sense, under normal circumstances when would you ever leave your last assigned altitude without receiving and acknowledging the new clearance?

How about if for whatever reason you are unable to maintain your last assigned altitude, ie. temperature inversion, turbulence, mountain wave, ect. Albeit that's not exactly a 'normal circumstance', but does it need to be?

You know what, I am going to ask a controller what they expect, next flight and report back! In fact I will ask several different ones (I get a PD every flight)
K.V. I hear about these aim busts on various forums but do not have the resources to find a reference right now..can anyone else confirm?

You just don't want to let go of that beer do you?

 

[waka]

In this case a 'vacating' call would be redundant and for that matter, not required.

When a controler gives you a PD clearance and you accept it, at that time you've accepted the entire clearance limit for that block altitude. Also, by accepting the PD clearance you have vacated the previosly assigned altitude. You are no longer flying at that assigned altitude and are now opperating in the block altitude.

That's not true and it doesn't even make sense.You have not vacated a previously assigned altitude until the airplane physically leaves that altitude.

 

[Booker]

If simply acknowledging the clearance covers is, why is that paragraph even in the AIM? There must be some reason for it to be there.

The only situation in which I've seen vacating calls used in a practical manner is when the controller is utilizing the latter option contained in 7110.65 5-5-5(b):

Assign an altitude to an aircraft after the aircraft previously at that altitude has been issued a climb/descent clearance and is observed (valid Mode C), or reports leaving the altitude.

Don Brown wrote that when you have a cluster of airplanes in a holding stack, it's difficult to observe a particular target's mode C readout, so when you release an airplane out of the pattern and then downshift everyone, it's quicker to assign each airplane a lower altitude if they all just report vacating their assigned altitudes, rather than waiting and trying to see each data block show the descent. Or something like that.

No, this doesn't have anything to do with the OP's question. Sorry.