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The captain clearly decided he was done and radiod air traffic control for permission to go to +4000 ft and gunned the engines to take the plane up another 4000

• insaneirish 3y ago
  Or, they asked ATC if they had any idea what might be a smoother ride, and that's what ended up being suggested. 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.
• bruce511 3y ago
  Honest question; is there air traffic control over the Pacific? 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.
  • phire 3y ago
    You don't actually need radar to have air traffic control. It's just that ATC can't provide tracking services for the entire route. 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.