Originally Posted by
Potsie Weber
Not suggesting that at all. Only questioning whether they followed the RVSM rules. Simply advise ATC before FL290 that you are non RVSM and let ATC decide if there is traffic around that may restrict or delay operating non-RVSM in RVSM airspace. It’s not that hard.
Well yes in hindsight its all so clear. So at F/L180 AP A disengages, A/T also disengages, they select B AP soon after and then that disengages later, the Stab trim light comes on, they monitor the problem, they run checklists, they call engineering and management and finally accept they are not going to have an autopilot and requested a block altitude to complete their flight. True, the rules must be obeyed, maybe they prioritised their task, maybe it didn't occur to them that when entering RVSM they couldn't restore the autopilot, because they were fully occupied whatever, who knows.? The last thing they needed is pedantic criticism.