Our current flight ops involve descent to 50, that is fifty, feet radalt at the base of descents over the open sea in good VMC, with 100ft being the lowest we opperate for any length of time (has been upto several hours!) At the other end, we do fly in the FL260 to FL330 band and in cloud for extended periods.
On a good day we have gone to FL350. The company offering the BAe146-300 has said that it will opperate happily at these heights. We are not sure, by the time we start hanging sensor pods below the wings, and various probes along the fuselage, the drag is going to be substantially increased. This aircraft has apparntly not had the engine mods done, as mentioned in the Rumour and News forum. Any 146 drivers like to comment on its ability to reach FL350, with a heavy payload, and increased drag index with the "old" engines? The roll back and fumes are another issue.....