737 NG optimum flight level reduction with reducing mach no.
Can someone explain how my 737 optimum altitude is calculated.
Yesterday I completed an automatic FMC max rate climb to meet an ATC restriction ... the speed came back to 230 knots/0.68 mach and approaching FL350 ....ISA -10...at 69,000 tonnes the FMC optimum calculation was around 3,000' lower ( I would typically expect FL380 @ 0.78 mach in these conditions).
Thought this would be the only place to get a scientific answer,
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by Zoyberg; 2nd February 2009 at 07:18.