ARFlyer
En-Route
Flying last night, I was asked something I've never been asked.
After our initial call, Center asked me if I could "maintain mountain, terrain and obstacle clearance" at 3000. This was after Center telling me to maintain VFR. We happened to be following a company aircraft that had departed for the same destination.
I had filed for 6000 and wanted to get above the cloud deck. I consulted the chart and replied back that I needed 4000' for the MOCA and MEA on V303 from HOT. At the time of the call I was off route direct to the VOR to join V303.
Center replied in an extremely annoyed tone "Your saying you can NOT maintain mountain, terrain and obstacle clearance at 3000', is that CORRECT!!"
I replied, "I can maintain clearance until HOT then I NEED 4000"
Center's reply was "Maintain 3000"
After about 15 minutes of no further instructions, I asked for 6000' and noticed that a different person happily cleared me to 6.
Also on initial call up he immediately asked, in a snarly tone, " Are you airborne yet?"
So was ATC in the wrong?
After our initial call, Center asked me if I could "maintain mountain, terrain and obstacle clearance" at 3000. This was after Center telling me to maintain VFR. We happened to be following a company aircraft that had departed for the same destination.
I had filed for 6000 and wanted to get above the cloud deck. I consulted the chart and replied back that I needed 4000' for the MOCA and MEA on V303 from HOT. At the time of the call I was off route direct to the VOR to join V303.
Center replied in an extremely annoyed tone "Your saying you can NOT maintain mountain, terrain and obstacle clearance at 3000', is that CORRECT!!"
I replied, "I can maintain clearance until HOT then I NEED 4000"
Center's reply was "Maintain 3000"
After about 15 minutes of no further instructions, I asked for 6000' and noticed that a different person happily cleared me to 6.
Also on initial call up he immediately asked, in a snarly tone, " Are you airborne yet?"
So was ATC in the wrong?
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