David Brooks wrote:
Is there any problem with controllers or examiners if I cross a stepdown fix
several hundred feet above the depicted altitude?

I doubt a controller would even notice (or care).

The examiner probably will, and might ding you on it if you didn't
explain why you were high. It sounds like you've got a perfectly good
plan, however, and I suspect most examiners would be impressed with
the level of pre-flight planning you put into this if you explained it
ahead of time. The last thing you want to do on a checkride is do
something unusual without explanation -- that leaves the examiner to
come up with his own explanation, and it might just be that you're
behind the airplane.

On the other hand, don't just cross fixes high for no good reason.
Depending on the approach, if you don't keep up (down?) with the
step-down fixes, you may find yourself having to divebomb at the end
to reach the MDA before you reach the MAP. I don't have a chart of
the approach you're talking about, but the way you describe it, it
sounds like you've already thought about that.



I believe that, legally,
I can be at any altitude above the crossing minimum, but would this be a
bust of the PTS +/-100 tolerance, or cause a problem for ATC?

For example, take the SEA VOR 34L/R approach. Assume you are cleared for the
approach at 5000ft. Profile is 5000 at FACTS - 6nm - 3000 at MILLT - 6.7nm -
1600 at DONDO, which is the last fix before descent to the MDA. I can set up
a nice smooth descent at 300fpnm, arrive at 1600ft well before DONDO, and
avoid even thinking about a level-off by crossing MILLT something above
3200ft. Would that be a checkride ding?