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Jeff,
When I flew a C340 I did most of my descents at 1,000 fpm, when possible. Ask ATC for lower when you are ready to descend. Most of the time they will give you the lower altitude. Sometimes, they are not so agreeable. Last month I was told to be "at or below" an altitude that would have required a 6,000 fpm descent. When I said that I couldn't do that, the controller ask me to do a 180. In this particular case, I told the controller that I knew a trick and cancelled IFR.
I know that if you can't maintain a 500 fpm climb, you need to report that to ATC. I believe that is the same for the descent.
In my 320, I set my 396 to descend me at 400, 500 or 1,000 fpm depending on winds aloft. Sometimes I want to stay at 16,000 feet longer for the tailwind. Sometimes I want to make use of the potential energy for the speed. I change the descent profile on most of my flights.
Your question of "what is the most common descent angle" is like asking, "what is the most common wind aloft". If possible you should change your descent rate based upon; 1) How hard is the rate to change? 2) How busy is the arrival airport?, 3) How controlling are the arrival controllers? and 4) How long do you want to stay at altitude?
Now for my curiosity, how easy is the descent rate to change on the Chelton. On my 396 I have about 11 keystrokes to get to the VNAV rate.
Lorn
From: "Jeffrey Liegner, MD" <liegner@embarqmail.com>
Date: November 14, 2008 7:09:41 PM GMT-05:00
When anticipating a descent into the arrival airport, often ATC and I don't agree on the best solution. They have their traffic separation issues and sector hand off requirements, so I understand. But this leads to the question of what is the most common descent angle that pilots are programming into their Cheltons.
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Thanks.
Jeff L
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