Cruise Clearance

[Fly_Unity]

One of the private airstrips that I fly to in Wyoming has an airport at 5000 MSL. When Im IFR and talking to Denver Center, they frequently give me a Cruise clearance when Im in cruise at 14000 MSL, they will say "Cruise ten thousand".

Am I allowed to descend to 10,000 at this point? I indicated to the Controller that I still need a clearance to get to 10,000 and he stated that with a cruise clearance I can descend at PD down to 10 thousand.

Some days when Im cruising along at 14,000, a different controller gives me a Cruise clearance stating "cruise 14,000."

I was IMC once and did NOT have the ground in sight. Can I descend at this point? The controller then told me that I can descend as long as I can maintain my own terrain avoidance and stay above 2000 AGL (mountainous terrain). How do I know what what altitude that is? I descended down to 8000 and got the field in sight and cancelled because I knew the area well enough to know that I was still above 2000 AGL on my path. But what if I didnt know the area or the terrain? Could I descend at all?

 

[MikeD]

One of the private airstrips that I fly to in Wyoming has an airport at 5000 MSL. When Im IFR and talking to Denver Center, they frequently give me a Cruise clearance when Im in cruise at 14000 MSL, they will say "Cruise ten thousand".

Am I allowed to descend to 10,000 at this point? I indicated to the Controller that I still need a clearance to get to 10,000 and he stated that with a cruise clearance I can descend at PD down to 10 thousand.

Some days when Im cruising along at 14,000, a different controller gives me a Cruise clearance stating "cruise 14,000."

Advise when you're leaving down to 10K. You can also shoot an approach.

I was IMC once and did NOT have the ground in sight. Can I descend at this point? The controller then told me that I can descend as long as I can maintain my own terrain avoidance and stay above 2000 AGL (mountainous terrain). How do I know what what altitude that is? I descended down to 8000 and got the field in sight and cancelled because I knew the area well enough to know that I was still above 2000 AGL on my path. But what if I didnt know the area or the terrain? Could I descend at all?

You answered your own question in the last two sentences. If you can't maintain terrain clearance, then you can't descend. This is why I always have sectionals or TPC/JOG chart available with me, even when IFR. That way when night unaided or IMC, I always know whats underneath me terrain-wise even when I can't see it.

Funny thing is, last October, you said this:

I get/request them on a weekly basis, mostly at small uncontrolled or private airfields here in the Rockies.

Are you telling me that you've been requesting and/or accepting these things for this long and not knowing what they mean or how they work? Not busting on you, am just wondering....

 

[Fly_Unity]

I have been accepting them for the last three years, Im asking why ATC is NOT consistent with their clearances as some controllers will clear me down to my cruise clearance, yet others wont, then Yesterday had a controller chew me out when I stated that I was going to descend in IMC below Vectoring altitude (still above 2000 AGL). I always thought I had the right to determine the terrain clearance, but the controller had me second guessing myself.

A while back had a different controller state to me that I can not technically descend to the stated "cruise clearance" altitude until I get a 2nd clearance. (Most controllers dont give me that 2nd clearance and expect me to automatically descend)

My main point: Why is ATC so inconsistent about their cruise clearances?

 

[msmspilot]

I have been accepting them for the last three years, Im asking why ATC is NOT consistent with their clearances as some controllers will clear me down to my cruise clearance, yet others wont, then Yesterday had a controller chew me out when I stated that I was going to descend in IMC below Vectoring altitude (still above 2000 AGL). I always thought I had the right to determine the terrain clearance, but the controller had me second guessing myself.

A while back had a different controller state to me that I can not technically descend to the stated "cruise clearance" altitude until I get a 2nd clearance. (Most controllers dont give me that 2nd clearance and expect me to automatically descend)

My main point: Why is ATC so inconsistent about their cruise clearances?

Because, like most pilots, ATC guys don't always know what they think they know. And, like pilots, sometimes they remember things incorrectly.