Originally Posted by
flyingnewbie10
If they had a flight plan that predicted a descent to FL360 after Brasilia, shouldn't they seek contact with ATC to ask for clearance ?
(This is just a question ... I am not sure what the right answer would be)
If the Legacy crew had some reason they really wanted to change altitude then they would have asked. They flight planned at standard altitudes and would have had a view ATC would move them around to suit ATCs plans. This might or might not have included ATC descending them at Brasilia.
Note - The flight plan looks like it correctly reflects the Legacy's changing track across Magnetic North. However, it would be reasonably common not to make all of these planned 1000 ft changes in real life.