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last week I found that someone had changed it to 2.5 degrees. Not a prob- lem if I was planning on descending at that rate, but it could have been a problem if I was expecting a steeper descent and did not get it. Having the “Banana,” or Range to Altitude, is also a good feature to have turned on. And
then crosscheck that the fixes, alti- tudes, and speeds in the FMS match the STAR.
As you see above, there are many ways to error in a descent using au- tomation. The most common way to err and miss a crossing restriction when not using VNAV automation is
just to miss or be late on the descent point or planned TOD. This is easy to do if ATC gives a descent with a crossing restriction somewhere ahead of your present position.
An early descent will result in more f light time at lower altitudes, with increased fuel consumption. A late
Figure 1
Figure 2
6 • TWIN & TURBINE / May 2024
