AirTaxiDriver,
consider the following remarks:
* 500fpm is the LEGAL minimum rate of descent,
* 500fpm rate of descent is "perfectly legal" (assuming one is adhering to all vertical and speed constraints published on an Arrival)
QUESTION: can you spot the difference between these two remarks?
I was discussing what is legal, YES, but I did not mention that 500feet per minute is the LEGAL minimum; there is a BIG difference.
I referred in my last post to check ICAO regulations as to whether 500fpm is allowed or not; there is no mention in ICAO Doc 8168 of any minimum, therefore IT IS allowed; maybe you misunderstood what I was saying, or I did not make my point as clearly as I could have, anyways;
@AirTaxiDriver
By all means, if you want to descend at 100fpm , off you go ! fill your boots!
Consider the following however;
Initial Descent to the Airport
you are certainly not making any friends with your fellow pilots dawdling at -100fpm, whilst others are commencing their initial descent to an airport, and there you are blocking ALL the levels, and creating headaches for the all concerned, pilots and controllers.
and as mentioned by another poster:
a pilot requests descent, controller gives clearance
pilot descends, EASY
instead of (what seems an increasing occurance of) whereby
a pilot requests descent, controller gives descent clearance
pilot waits another 20 miles before starting down....
(EM NO ! you are supposed to start down once you receive the clearance.
AND you guys and girls know who you are, so stop this ridiculous practice).
DESCEND WHEN READY... in that case stay up there at your cruising level till the HOLD I don't care, but if a controller gives u a descent clearance, DESCEND !!
Holding
@AirTaxiDriver, you mention "in other states, you are allowed to use 100ftm till the ATC ask you another rate for their separation." really? good luck with that one ! the controller will not be ASKING (as you put it) for another rate, he will be DEMANDING another rate (at least 1000fpm)
You see, that is the expectation from your fellow professionals;
rather than wait until prompted, give the controller what he/she expects..
frees up the frequency too! 1 call instead of 2 (an added bonus)
Vectors (Downwind / Base / Final)
From having a chat with Approach controllers over the years, I understand there is an expectation that a pilot would descend at least 500fpm when been vectored, (once out of any holding pattern) and also (for sure I am open to correction on this one), 300fpm is acceptable below 6000ft aal.
@AirTaxiDriver your "100ftm" as you put it, I dont think would really win you any friends here ! but hey.... you wait for controller to give you a new rate...