> the captain clearly decided he was done and gunned the engines to take the plane up another 4000 feet
That's not how civil aviation works, but never mind. Sounds like a neat story.
That's not how civil aviation works, but never mind. Sounds like a neat story.
is that better
If you listen to ATC radio at all, it's a lot more anecdotal than you'd otherwise suspect, with private planes that fly higher sometimes reporting smoother air at higher flight levels.
I guess this was a China to US flight (can't read TFA), so maybe within land based radars?
I'm no pilot, but I assumed over large open water it's pretty much "designated highways" with designated altitudes.
But sure, if permission is needed I think it's implied in the original post that he got clearance to so. If theres more to "doesn't work like that" I'd be interested.
Instead, aircraft file their routes in advanced (which are either a series waypoints, or a fixed airway), and pilots occasionally radio in position updates as they progress.
The airspace is still controlled, but without tracking, the separations are much larger. Any two aircraft that might be on the same route or might cross paths have different assigned altitudes, and they must communicate with ATC before changing altitude or route.