Cruise clearance

How many times do you get a cruise clearance. Ever get "unable"
Lets say the cloud layers are 4000 to 5200. You are cleared to 5000, but want
to climb to 5300 or above. Is it possible to get a "cruise" clearance to stay
above the layers? What about over class B?

(Hankal) wrote in
:

How many times do you get a cruise clearance. Ever get "unable"
Lets say the cloud layers are 4000 to 5200. You are cleared to 5000,
but want to climb to 5300 or above. Is it possible to get a "cruise"
clearance to stay above the layers? What about over class B?


If you know the tops are at 5200', then why not request 6000'? I have not
had an operational need for a cruise clearance. If I want to do some climbs
and descents for training, I often request a block altitude. You can
request 5000 block 6000. You can climb and descend in this block as you
please. In most cases I request a block clearance to put us in the clouds
than vice versa (again for training).

If you know the tops are at 5200', then why not request 6000'?

Would have to request 7000. Flying 090.
Since I am only 40 miles from the destination I just do not want to climb
another 2000 feet.

In article ,
(Hankal) wrote:

If you know the tops are at 5200', then why not request 6000'?

Would have to request 7000. Flying 090.
Since I am only 40 miles from the destination I just do not want to climb
another 2000 feet.

If your goal is to be able to fly at 5300, the most simple thing would
probably be to ask for a block altitude: "request 5000 block 6000". If
approved, this lets you fly at any altitude from 5000 to 6000
(inclusive).

A clearance of "cruise 6000" would let you do that same thing, but
unless you're in an area where cruise clearances are routinely issued,
it's unlikely the controller will be willing to give you that (mostly
because he probably doesn't remember the details of how it works any
more than I do).

I've been fairly successful getting an off-hemisphere altitude. Flying over
WV in December, I was flying west and had to climb through a 1500' broken layer to
beautiful VMC at 0 deg F.. I was cleared for 8000, but was hitting a few tops
(with light ice). I got 9000 so I didn't have to climb to 10 but wasn't in the IMC.
After 1/2 hour or so, the tops had droppend and I went back down to 8.

Depending on how busy they are, they may or may not do it. Another option in
your case would have been VFR on top at 5500? I guess that doesn't quite meet the
cloud clearance, though.

-Cory

Hankal wrote:
:If you know the tops are at 5200', then why not request 6000'?

: Would have to request 7000. Flying 090.
: Since I am only 40 miles from the destination I just do not want to climb
: another 2000 feet.

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wrote in message
...

Another option in your case would have been VFR on top at 5500?
I guess that doesn't quite meet the cloud clearance, though.


No, it doesn't. If the cloud layers are 4000 to 5200 and he's heading east,
he'd have to climb to 7500 to operate VFR-on-top.

No, it doesn't. If the cloud layers are 4000 to 5200 and he's heading east,
he'd have to climb to 7500 to operate VFR-on-top.

Thank you all for the comments.
Never thought it would open such a can of worms.
As I stated in my original post, I did not want to climb to 7000, since I was
only 30 miles from my destination. By the time I would have been at 7000, I
would start my decend. Only reason for not flying through all the cloud layers,
was for the comfort of my passenger ( wife who doe not like to fly) VFR on top
would have been 7500.
All I needed was 200 feet and I would have been on top.
Thanks
Hank N1441P

(Hankal) wrote in news:20040519095128.29731.00001621@mb-
m05.aol.com:

If you know the tops are at 5200', then why not request 6000'?

Would have to request 7000. Flying 090.
Since I am only 40 miles from the destination I just do not want to climb
another 2000 feet.


The hemispheric rule only applies to uncontrolled airspace. In controlled
airspace, you request what you want, and fly what you get.

Hankal wrote:

If you know the tops are at 5200', then why not request 6000'?


Would have to request 7000. Flying 090.
Since I am only 40 miles from the destination I just do not want to climb
another 2000 feet.

No, you can request any whole altitude if you are IFR in controlled
airspace. Wouldn't be wise to fly a VFR altitude. I've had lots of
controller's assign me the "wrong" altitude for my direction of flight.


Matt

"Hankal" wrote in message
...

Would have to request 7000. Flying 090.
Since I am only 40 miles from the destination I just do not want to
climb another 2000 feet.


ATC can assign altitudes that are wrong for direction of flight.