PilotEdge Forums

Did my first ever IFR flight last night on PE and I was told that descending down through 18000, normal ops would be to cancel my ATC instructions but the very nice controller wanted to try something and gave me ATC all the way to final.

A couple of questions, if the 18000 floor is for cancelling ATC services would I have then just received FlightFlo? If the field is IFR with traffic am I really to expect to be left on my own starting way up at 18000 in this new expansion area? Had I done a flight at 12000 as my max alt, should I expect no IFR ATC services? Just a little puzzled of what to expect both with the new expanded area and real life controlling as IFR flights are all new to me.

Kilstorm wrote:Did my first ever IFR flight last night on PE and I was told that descending down through 18000, normal ops would be to cancel my ATC instructions but the very nice controller wanted to try something and gave me ATC all the way to final.

A couple of questions, if the 18000 floor is for cancelling ATC services would I have then just received FlightFlo? If the field is IFR with traffic am I really to expect to be left on my own starting way up at 18000 in this new expansion area? Had I done a flight at 12000 as my max alt, should I expect no IFR ATC services? Just a little puzzled of what to expect both with the new expanded area and real life controlling as IFR flights are all new to me.

This is a quark of the expansion. You will only have top to bottom ATC services (IFR or VFR) if you fly to and from a field that's listed on the expansion page. Otherwise you will dropped like a hot potato at 18000' or top of decent, whichever is lower (unless the controller is feeling frisky )

If you are just starting to fly IFR you would be better served to fly in the confines of ZLA where you will have top to bottom ATC service that models real world ops.

Also, the only other traffic in the expansion is other users. There are no online drones set up as in ZLA.

The Western US Expansion page currently states that the hidden gem feature provides enroute service as a bare minimum and that service is canceled at top of descent (or below FL180), whichever is lower, as Andrew Stated above. This means that had you been cruising at 12k, the service might have been cancelled once you started initial descent from 12k.

Having run some tests with users online, we will be revising this today or tomorrow to include approach services at the destination. There are parts of the airspace where we don't have high fidelity minimum IFR altitude data (other than airway MEA's), so pilots will need to be on published routes and plan to use feeders or IAF where appropriate. I'll post an update when we have rolled out the new policy regarding Hidden Gem.

Keith I have been watching the issue unfold and I have to say opening up to the point your talking is going to be a really awesome enhancement. It literally opens up the entire area for all types of flights.

I suppose the more difficult part is for all pilots to fully understand the difference, perhaps a strong suggestion pilots complete the I-06 prior to engaging in the expansion "full approach" procedures.

Well done!

Keith Smith wrote:.....
Having run some tests with users online, we will be revising this today or tomorrow to include approach services at the destination. There are parts of the airspace where we don't have high fidelity minimum IFR altitude data (other than airway MEA's), so pilots will need to be on published routes and plan to use feeders or IAF where appropriate. I'll post an update when we have rolled out the new policy regarding Hidden Gem.

Just another reason for me to part with some coin come January 17.

The Western Expansion Open House ends at close of business Jan 10. The option to upgrade your subscription to have access to the area will be available the morning of Jan 11. You can wait until the 17th, but you'll miss 6 days of access.

Keith Smith wrote:The Western Expansion Open House ends at close of business Jan 10. The option to upgrade your subscription to have access to the area will be available the morning of Jan 11. You can wait until the 17th, but you'll miss 6 days of access.

I stand corrected. The 11th it is then.