Descent profile
 

Hey all,
I'm getting the opportunity to fly a King Air and I've never been in the Flight Levels before. Being new to pressurization and such what kind of descent profile do guys use. Any tips are appreciated.
Thanks

When ATC starts you down. Sorry, had to but a 3 to 1 always works well. Don't worry if you ever get behind it, you can make it drop like a rock. I don't recall ever having a problem with the pressurization catching up, just don't drop it out of the flight levels and you should be fine. Have fun with it, it was my favorite plane to fly.

3:1: Altitude to lose x 3 = distance from crossing restriction/fix
Example: 20,000 ft. x 3 = 60
Start descent 60 miles out

Start down 60 NM out. Adjust your VS according to your GS at any one time.
Required vertical speed to meet restriction:
Ground speed x 5
Example: 250 kts. x 5 = 1250 ft. VS\
(OR add a zero to GS and divide by two: 250 + 0 = 2500 / 2 = 1250 ft. VS)

Also, if your flying into an uncontrolled field give yourself some room to maneuver for the approach instead of a bee-line from flight levels to the airport. If your flying in a radar environment, ATC may spoon-feed your speeds, alt, and heading all the way to intercept final but do the headwork to make sure what ATC assigns is safe and do-able.

A good gouge would be 30 air miles from touchdown at 10,000' (3:1). By air miles, I'm talking about the length of downwind, base, final. This might be overkill in the King Air as it can descend pretty well. It's better to have to much room than not enough and as you get more experience you'll know what you can get away with.

Have fun!

Thanks guys,
As the gear puller on the Sherpa we tend to stay fairly close to the base in RDD and when we do venture off we tend to stick to ourselves unless we need to call ATC but now I hope to get some admin flights in and my boss is arranging for some logistical work in AK so I appreciate your input. Been lurking on this site for awhile now not being an airline guy but you have some valuable info sharing here and I hope to be involved.

Pressurized T-prop, you can easily do 2000-3000fpm if you have to(but pax comfort tends to be 1500fpm or less just because of the angle). In the TBM's I try to fly 1500fpm profiles just because it gives me the max time at alt(if ATC lets me), and then it puts me 20kts under redline at 100% torque in the descent until I get in the mid-teens. If I'm solo, then it's a 3000fpm+ profile if I'm allowed, max efficiency!

I used the 3:1 and also added a mile for every 10 kts. of tailwind and a mile for every 10 kts. of assigned speed reduction.