Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler - Step Altitudes or straight to Cruise

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | Airline Operations | Step Altitudes or straight to Cruise

DVA2051
Captain, B767-300

Joined on December 15 2004
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Atlanta, GA USA

943 legs, 1,699.0 hours
498 legs, 605.9 hours online
856 legs, 1,544.0 hours ACARS
5 legs, 8.3 hours event

Posted onPost created on January 16 2011 21:25 ET by Mario Johnson

For those flying across the pond.... Do you shoot straight up to Cruise when you fly a long flight or do you burn off some of your weight then climb? Do you get longer range by burning before climbing? Thanks.

DVA3196
Senior Captain, MD-11
OLP, COMM

Joined on June 03 2006
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"pitchpowertrim.com"
Anderson, MO

619 legs, 1,093.4 hours
292 legs, 503.1 hours online
580 legs, 1,026.5 hours ACARS
89 legs, 191.0 hours event
236 legs dispatched, 110.1 hours

Posted onPost created on January 16 2011 21:32 ET by Michael Brown

Generally speaking you step climb to achieve the best fuel burn. Yes, you will have longer endurance as you step climb as opposed to flying up to FL320 and staying put the entire route. As you burn fuel and get lighter your most efficient altitude will become higher and higher.

Thats the short answer. We have some guys here that could get a lot more in depth than I could. cool

DVA9189
First Officer, B767-300

Joined on November 12 2010

Ann Arbor Charter Township, MI

45 legs, 93.2 hours
44 legs, 91.6 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on January 23 2011 19:05 ET by Matthew Garrett

Is there any certain altittudes to step to? I havnt done an over the pond flight with DVA yet and any advice for when I do is helpful. Thanks guys.

Matthew Garrett

First Officer, B767-300

DVA5929
Senior Captain, B747-400
OLP

Joined on May 10 2008
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TX USA

651 legs, 3,806.1 hours
472 legs, 2,922.9 hours online
565 legs, 3,319.5 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on January 23 2011 21:10 ET by Nicholas Carpenter

In your manuals you can find your optimum cruise altitude for weight, and if you have an FMC you can check by that too.

For example, Appendix 5 of the 747 manual lists optimum altitudes.

Nicholas Carpenter

Senior Captain, B747-400

DVA3794
Senior Captain, A320
OLP, 737-ATP

Joined on December 03 2006
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"volando libero......."
Antarctica

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478 legs, 964.8 hours event
65 legs dispatched, 72.4 hours

Posted onPost created on January 23 2011 22:11 ET by Vincenzo Musumeci

I always check the optimum altitude before I decide which flight level I'm taking ....I remember a while ago getting stuck at some point and being unable to climb because of my aircraft weight eek

DVA5890
First Officer, B747-400

Joined on May 06 2008
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"PPL"
Toronto, ON Canada

232 legs, 1,191.6 hours
190 legs, 972.7 hours online
226 legs, 1,173.8 hours ACARS
23 legs, 60.1 hours event

Posted onPost created on January 27 2011 03:26 ET by Craig Gear

Hello,

All answers are correct. You can refer to the manual, and calculate. You can also refer to the FMC for computer calculation.
You should always (in the real world) be doing manual calculation, and comparing that to the FMC computerized calculations.

You ALSO have to take in to consideration the winds aloft, especially when going across massive bodies of water.

Hope this helped.

Craig Gear (DVA5890)

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