Expediting through levels

[Hap Hazard]

I am a relatively new kid to the right hand seat and was wondering if someone in the ATC forum could please tell me the following answers?
When ATC request an aircraft to expedite through a level in a climb or descent, I seem to remember that you are at the latest expected to give a good rate of 1000ft before and after the requested level, thus giving a minimum of 2000ft where the rate would be higher than normal.
Personally in a climb I aim to increase my rate 2000ft before and ease it off again 1000ft after passing the requested expedite level.
It may seem an anal type of question, however there seems to be a lot of Capt who seem to think that you have to give a good rate all the way up to your assigned level, the problem being of course the A/C just plain runs out of steam at the higher levels if you try to give a good rate all the way from lower levels, especially when the A/C hasnt had time to accelerate properly.
We also have the added disadvantage where the A/C has a fairly restrictive speed schedule at lower levels until 10000ft.
So speed management is essential in some cases if you are not to be caught out if there is a relatively long climb to the requested expedite level especially at higher weights and lower speeds.
So what are the reqiurements as far as expediting through a level that ATC expect to be complied with?

Also I have asked and got lots of varying answers to the radar vectoring charts in the Racal Approach plate manuals.
Places like Glasgow for instance, arivals from the south are quite often given descents slightly lower than Sector MSA when outside the 10nm radius from the Field for the corresponding approach plate.
A quick cross check with the Radar Vectoring chart confirms that the controller is indeed working to the lower alt that is printed on that chart.
The problem is that there is almost no info what so ever of horizontal distance out from the field where these alt are safe to descend to.
On many Radar Vector plates there are small isolated areas quite often published that require a higher MDA to immediate surrounding areas on the Radar Vec Chart, but there is in almost all cases no quick and easy way of telling out to what distance from the field.
Considering that ultimately we pilots are always the ones that are responsible, does anyone know why the distances are not annotated on the plates...guess this maybe a question for Racal?
Seems a bit silly not to provide this info as I consider it important if you are to remain as situationally aware as possible? Maybe I am missing a point here? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[Chilli Monster]

Saab

I'm with your Captains on this. If I say expedite through a level it means I want you through that level ASAP, not normal rate just before it and then quickly through. This is to either get you on track once passed someone blocking your level or get you through the level of a possible conflict - if you don't haul a**e you then become a conflict.

As for the RVA charts. If it is known what obstruction the SSA is based on, and it is seen on radar that you are past that obstruction then there is nothing to prevent the controller descending you further (providing it is not less than 1000' above any other relevant obstructions on your track).

CM

[eyeinthesky]

Can't comment on the RVA charts, but with regard to the use of 'Expedite' I would concur it means: "Expedite all the way from your present level until you are through the level specified". As for what that means, I worry sometimes that people use it on an A340 for example, when the difference between normal and expedited rate does not seem to be very much! Often I will find out what sort of ROC/ROD you can manage to a certain level and then use that, or specify one which meets my needs.

Remember that if you are being asked to expedite, it is probably to help ensure separation against crossing traffic. We often phrase it in terms of a ROC/ROD because that is instantly recognisable, but what we actually mean or want is your best ANGLE of climb or descent (i.e. greatest height change for least distance travelled). It is up to you how you achieve that. Also I try not to give huge ranges to expedite because of the problem you mention of speed ranges etc (eg a/c passing FL210: "Climb FL370, expedite!"). Others do not..

[ive348]

I must agree with eyeinthesky. It is always best to ask the pilot what ROC/ROD he/she can manage, and then work from there.
I also think "expedite" should not be used to separate two a/c. When the resulting ROC/ROD is not what you had in mind, you will still end up with a loss of separation (and be blamed). A specified ROC/ROD assures your separation and if the pilot can not comply, he/she should tell you, and you can change the plan. If he/she fails to comply without telling you, that's just him/she being unprofessional and dangerous.

[Hap Hazard]

Thanks for the info guys, at least I now know what you expect to see from us and will give the best rate for whatever config speed/weight and let you know...

[karrank]

I wince when I hear "expedite", to me it means an ATC has seen a problem but can't be bothered doing anything to actively fix it.

Can also mean an ATC is unwilling to use those horrible words "traffic, 10 O'clock, fo..., um, five miles" and is hoping he will come out of a situation without a hand falling on his shoulder...

To be fair, I have seen it used in situations where the second of two climbing aircraft is faster, and asking him to expedite stops the closing.

[Not Long Now]

karrank, thanks for the vote of confidence! I use expedite to make things happen quicker which usually means planes get where they're going sooner. Didn't realise it was because I was being lazy or dangerous...

[Scott Voigt]

Kranky;

Actually MOST of us use the expedite word so that flight crews don't have to level and stay there for a long time. In other words, we are trying to HELP them. It's no skin off my nose if a pilot doesn't want to do it as long as they tell me. That way we can leave them level...

[ferris]

It IS safer to stop them off. But so is using 10 miles instead of 5. In busy airspace the line between safety and expedition is pushed closer to expedition. Otherwise the conflicts created by stopping climbs jams up the airspace quickly.

[divingduck]

Sorry Karrank....
"Expedite" gets them to their levels quicker...some of us don't have time or room to hold everybody at "safe" interim levels.
It pains me to do it but I have to agree with Ferris.... :) :) and it's no fun having 30 or more on vectors..... <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

To me, expedite means max rate(not best rate) of climb til past the level specified...just my 100 baisas worth.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Karrank.. If "expedite" makes you wince you've obviously never worked in a busy place! A good example from London is during the early morning peak into Heathrow (6-7am). We often use two runways and it means traffic will often have to cross one ILS to reach the other. Using min radar sep, or visual separation, we can get below Vortex sep... but pilots are great ones for dawdling down slowly so we sometimes have to ask them to expedite descent so we can drop down on top for the other runway. No loss of separation pending.. no need to wince.. just standard operating in a busy TMA.

[Scott Voigt]

Yeah, one way to not have to use the term expedite so much is to have flight crews come down like it was their idea and not ours &lt;G&gt;.

I have been amazed at how many times I have been on a flight deck when ATC asked for an expedite and heard it rogered and then the crew did NOTHING! &lt;sigh&gt;

regards

Scott

[ItchyFeet2]

Have to agree with karrank on this one.

Expedite means you are not in control and couldn't be bothered to work out the rate of climb or descent needed.

It doesn't mean anything to the pilots and means nothing to the investigation board.

Either give a specific rate, vector or even simply monitor but don't fudge it with "expedite"

That's my bit for the year!

[Chilli Monster]

IF2

You can tell you've never worked outside CAS <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

CM

[Special VFR]

. . . or in the real world.

Sorry, IF2, don't have time for all these mental calculations, otherwise the six conflicts I'm worry about would have happened. Expedite means get a move on, use your commonsense.

As for 'monitor the situation', sorry, frowned upon, been too many incidents in the past where a situatiomn has been allowed to develop with the controller 'monitoring it'. He gets distracted and the incident happens. And that does means something to the investigation board.

[romeowiz]

I tend to agree with Special VFR but I think the other side is not completely wrong. Simply saying "expedite" means nothing. We give a limit to it; e.g. "expedite climb until passing FL..." to give the pilots a clue when they will be out of trouble so it is theirs to hurry or not.
Ain´t that fair?

[Contact London 131.12]

Ok here's my 2p's worth

Anyone asking for expediates at levels such as 340 etc Bono deserves alot more than sweaty palms!
Plain stupidty that if you ask me we all know at those levels its useless! 2000ft from a requested level up there is hardly a penalty

However at the lower levels in a say a TM type enviroment it does have its place, its not because we have got it wrong, we (ATCO's) are trying to help you guy's (PILOT's) out, if you are say flying a 737, say LL-CC and there is maybe traffic FL90 15-20 miles ahead its a pretty good bet we will get a very good rate of climb if we ask for an expedite through FL100(particularly as we will have been watching your initial rate of climb of the deck! A 747 going to KLAX maybe not!
If you guys (pilots) are telling us (controllers) that you would rather stay at say 6000ft for 15 miles further than is absolutely necessary because you don't like hearing expedite...fine by me...BUT IF THAT IS SO STOP BUGGING US WITH CONTINUAL "passing 135 for 140" calls etc!!!


So make yor views known low levels for alot longer and headings all over the sky, or the odd expedite thrown in and up towards your requested levels sooner.

[5milesbaby]

I agree with CL131.12 that high level expedites is almost useless and shouldn't be used. However, at lower levels is an extremely useful tool. I use it when I have assessed 2 a/c should miss, but not by much (ie getting the 5 miles at least, normally 8 or so), so 'get your arse through FL~~~' doubles the safety by increasing the range of the miss. <img src="cool.gif" border="0"> <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

As for those who say expedite means nothing to them, our MATS Part 1 (yes, I've finally found it and dusted it off!!!) Phraseology section states -
'Expedite Climb/Descent' To require a pilot to climb/descend at best rate
If its in ours, then I would say it has to be in the AIP or other docs with phraseology, anyone got a reference????

[ 10 January 2002: Message edited by: 5milesbaby ]</p>

[romeowiz]

5milesbaby, I dusted one off, too.(AIP Germany)

EXPEDITE CLIMB / DESCENT UNTIL PASSING (level):
If climb/descent need to be started immediately after receipt of clearance.

That´s nothing but "get it going", is´nt it? Nothing to the rate but "commence action now".

[Cough]

Heathrow Director - Normally descending slowly to achieve the Cont. Descent App that BAA loves us to do. If you told us to get down for wake, believe me we would.

[Hap Hazard]

Thanks for all the replies to my question, but as usual in this game there seems to be a bit of ambiguity.
My original question was put on the forum to find out if there was any special requirements to expediting a level in the climb, with regard to what you are told during your training?
I guess not, or has someone been told different? Would love to know if there is anything offical on the subject?
In the meantime I am quite happy to give you all my best rate all the way up whatever that happens to and let you know...but why not then just tell us to "ABC123 climb FL.... expeidite" instead of "ABC123 climb FL...., expedite through FL..."?

[5milesbaby]

Saab Boy, obviously different a/c can give high performance in differing amounts, ie A340 versus F18 for the extremes. As an ATCO all I want is a fantastic rate for a while to get you above the traffic, hence the 'expedite passing FLXXX'. When you are given this, it means the traffic is at the level 1000 below. We can decifer roughly the current climb rate, but giving a 'climb at X thousand feet/min' is crap as we don't know the daily limitations on each a/c, therefore could ask for something unrealistic, leading to even more use of RT.

I like those pilots who sometimes come back 'we will do our best through....' and occasionally tell us when they need to decrease, or can't increase by much, it puts us then in the full picture and we don't get caught out the nasty way.

[eyeinthesky]

Well if you're just relying on the use of 'expedite', 5 miles, you are in for a nasty surprise one day for all the reasons already given on this thread.

[ferris]

Who said anything about RELIANCE? It is just another tool in the kit-bag. Go and watch somewhere busy one day.

[5milesbaby]

eyeinthesky, how you can get 'just relying on expedite' from that I do not know, as I said, I use it to ensure the 5 miles I already have is going to be more to increase the safety factor. To add to this, I can't remember the last time I actually used it, definately not within the last 2 months or so <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

[Captain Windsock]

It strikes me that those that work in busy TMA situations understand why you need to use expedite and those who don't obviously need to spend some time listening into London TMA S or N.

Saab boy we are sometimes able to give you climb to your cruising level but only need to get you through traffic that is say a few thousand feet above hence "Climb FLxxx expedite through xxx" Once you are through the traffic you might as well revert to ther most cost efficient climb rate.

[ferris]

Classic example last shift: GFA, 767 FL370 (arriving) 8 miles ahead of SIA, 747 FL330 (overflying). GFA is grounding 50 Kn slower. First call on freq from GFA is 'request descent'. Options; orbit GFA, turn GFA, turn SIA, descend GFA with 'expedite'. Can't turn either right due restricted area, turning left infringes the outbound stream. Therefore turning left causes 5 outbounds to stop climb/turn (domino effect).
Wait for SIA on freq then "GFA descend to FL150, expedite through FL310, faster following traffic." Worked beautifully; GFA knows not to dawdle and why, no one else is affected, already high workload doesn't become overload, and you still have the option of the vectors if req. They don't teach it at the college, but a lot of things come with experience.

[Scott Voigt]

Itchy;

I don't agree at all with your statement about expedite... I don't base separation on an expedite clearance. I use it to get something started so that I can keep aircraft moving. I am also letting the pilot know that I don't want them to flatten out the climb to build up speed, or to float down when I start them down as they love to do.

I look at what they are doing after I issue the clearance and if I need something else I will then tell them that.

regards