Strange Step Descent

SimBrief Dispatch
1

While planning a flight from OKKK-VOBL, I noticed a strange step descent and climb again… Not sure what caused this winds not better either, nothing has been specified in the route section…

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Thanks,
Mo

2

Airway M677 has a max flight level of 355 from OBNET

1 Like
3

Hi, this is a bit confusing because Bahrain AIP indicate the limit vertical 250-460 and UAE AIP says upto FL355. Above FL355 is FRA.

Regards,
Mo

4

You would need to reference the UAE ENR 1.9 Air Traffic Flow Management and Airspace Management document. For your overflight routing this would be OBNET DCT TONVO using FRA above FL355

5

Thanks after discussing this with UAE staff it appears that they tend to ignore any step descents and will allow the aircraft to fly at the current FL (only if it’s already above FL350 already). Another option is if the aircraft is originated within MENA they would usually cap it to FL350 until Muscat. Which appears to be the case on this flight:

So the suggestion for SimBrief to take that into account maybe plan the step climb after TONVO.

Regards,
Mo

6

But looking at a Kuwait Airways A32N flight on the route pair in question it was flown at FL370 through UAE, fitting with ENR 1.9

7

I think it depends on whether they ultimately filed the FRA route or via the OBNET L677. Both are correct routes.

8

Going back to your step issue if you were to submit a compliant FRA routing the step wouldn’t exist.