OnCourse Software

Hello,

I was flying PMDG 737 from Dubai to Amman Jordan and when I was about three miles from the airport I was told by ATC to descend to 11,000 feet. I manually descended the plane and overstressed it but am wondering why ATC did not have me descend earlier. I have attached a log if that helps.

Thanks,

Rick

The problem was caused due to you last couple of waypoints being far too close to your destination. ASPAL is only 12 nm out and ALNOR 22 nm out, so your last waypoint could have been AI150 or even ELOXI. You started requesting a lower altitude at OBROD so you could have adjusted the altitudes accordingly before your flight. Had you removed the last 2 or 3 waypoints PF3 would have calculated from flight plan differently of course.

Hope that helps

Dave,

Thank you very much. So I am assuming in order to have ATC direct me to the correct altitude, I have to remove waypoints around 35 miles or closer to the destination airport? Any other general recommendations?

Thanks,

Ricardo

Well yes, if your last waypoint is too close to your destination then you really are going to struggle with vectors because you won't be handed off to Approach until you reach the last waypoint. You can adjust the flight plan altitudes within PF3 and you should at least make a habit of checking the flight plan once loaded. You started to request a lower altitude long before you flight plans TOD so it obviously wasn't to your liking, so always best to check/adjust it before your flight