When Air Traffic is Light, ATC Lets You Take Your Time Landing

Controllers cant just look where the traffic is now. Were mentally projecting every route ahead to see future conflicts. If Ive got two 120-knot aircraft at the same altitude converging on a point 20 miles away, in 10 minutes theyll be waving to each other. Something-like an altitude change-must be done in 10 minutes. If I need to use immediately in that altitude clearance, I screwed up by waiting way too long.

tkarmer

Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

"At pilot's discretion" is an ATC clearance allowing pilots flexibility to initiate and conduct climbs or descents at their chosen time and rate when there are no immediate traffic conflicts.
A key restriction is that once an altitude is vacated under this clearance, a pilot may not return to it without obtaining a new ATC clearance, as ATC will consider it available for other traffic.
This discretion offers convenience, allows temporary level-offs (e.g., for weather), and is also implied in specific crossing clearances or "descend/climb via" STAR/SID procedures.

See a mistake? Contact us.

When an air traffic controller needs you to climb or descend quickly, they pepper their phraseology with “immediately,” “expedite,” or “no delay.” Is there a counterpart, for less stressful situations? Of course there is: “At pilot’s discretion.”

Even though it involves less urgency than a standard ATC altitude clearance, that phrase comes with some definite expectations. Some may be obvious. Others not so much.