Pilot's Discretion

[paulsalem]

5-3-3. Additional Reports​

a. The following reports should be made to ATC or FSS facilities without a specific ATC request:​

1. At all times.​

(a) When vacating any previously assigned altitude or flight level for a newly assigned altitude or flight level.​

Notice it says ALL times. Not only when in non-radar, not when operating under PD, not when frequency congestion is low.

Seems pretty clear to me. Go read some article by Don Brown on avweb.

 

[igneousy2]

I almost always give the report mostly because it is one last chance for everyone to "un-screw" a situation before it happens.

You might not descend for 15 minutes or more when given a discretion - maybe it's not the same controller - sometimes the clearence was given 3 sectors ago plust they had a shift-change. Lots of opportunities for mis-communication and mistakes.

It doesn't cost anything - just do it.

Later