Another "Decend Via"????
 

The other day I was assigned my first "Decend Via" clearance on a new Arrival into KOKC (Camet One). In the clearance I wasn't given an altitude to decend to but just "decend via the arrival".

My question:
The first three altitudes crossing restrictions allow for 4000 foot windows over the fixes. Is it really up to me to decide at what altitudes to level off at within the 4000' window and on the legs between the fixes? That just sounds wierd.

So basically when given that clearance I can decend whenever I want, to cross the fixes at any altitude I want, and fly at any altituded I want on the legs between the fixes as long as its withing the altitude window.

What am I missing here.

Nothing. That's how it works.

The windows allow the VNAV to me more efficient.

To the general forum - How are you guys liking those new RNAV arrivals and departures into/out of KOKC? Anybody else been flying them?

I left two weeks ago and was expecting something different and STILL GOT a radial/DME to an intersecting radial off ADM for my clearance!
Still waiting :)

The idea is that you wouldn't level off at any particular altitude in the 4K window. You would plan your descent as a constant descent, hitting each fix within the prescribed altitude band while continuing to descend.

If you're actually leveling off between fixes, most likely you have done a poor job planning the descent. As someone said, VNAV makes this easy. Just some basic mental math if you don't have it.

Use caution on these "Descend Via" RNAV STARS. Look ahead to the next subsequent fixes when you see a "range" or band of altitudes at a particular fix.

Case in point-

The EAGUL arrival into PHX - Cross HOMER below 16,000. The next fix is VNNOM, which is only 4nm away! Cross VNNOM between 10,000-11,000. If you plan to cross HOMER at 15,999 MSL, 250Kts, you definitely ain't gonna make the VNNOM altitude restriction...

Watch tailwinds too! Lots of crews have been "caught off guard" with that arrival.

Another "Decend Via"????
 

What was described is correct , the idea is for a decent without a level off for better fuel consumption.

Descend via's make me think to much,., cause now I have to make sure George is doing what he is supposed to be doing ... Which he doesn't always go.. ... Open descent and call it a day...
And yes the tail winds can truly get you....

You descend via the published altitudes on the arrival and don't forget to comply with the speeds as well.

as worked up as we get over "descend via" clearances, it's the "climb via"
clearances that really have the potential to bite guys/gals in the butt.

Las Vegas, for example, has you climb to FL 190 but a ton of "cross at" intermediate level off fixes on the way up.

:confused: I don't understand this attitude. It's a SID with altitude constraints. We've had those for ages. Prior to ATC using "climb via" you never flew a SID that had intermediate altitude constraints in the climb?

Why are those constraints suddenly a bigger threat than they were before?