Start the descent when the pilot chooses, using any rate of descent and leveling off at an intermediate altitude. This describes which type of descent?

Start the descent when the pilot chooses, using any rate of descent and leveling off at an intermediate altitude. This describes which type of descent?

• A. Pilot Discretion Descent
• B. Continuous Descent Final Approach
• C. Step-down Descent
• D. Stabilized Descent

Answer: (A)

This scenario tests the ability to identify a descent that the pilot controls in timing and rate. In a pilot discretion descent, the pilot decides when to start descending, how fast to descend, and may level off at an intermediate altitude before continuing toward the approach. This matches the description because the descent is not fixed by the procedure with predetermined start times or continuous glide paths; the pilot has the flexibility to choose the start point, the rate of descent, and to hold at an intermediate altitude if needed. Continuous Descent Final Approach describes descending on a continuous glide path all the way to the runway with no step-downs or intentional level-offs, so the leveling off at an intermediate altitude wouldn’t fit. A Step-down Descent involves descending to specified intermediate altitudes at published points and leveling off at those altitudes according to the procedure, which is more about following fixed step-down fixes than exercising personal discretion on when to start the descent. Stabilized Descent refers to maintaining a stabilized approach profile and configuration once established, not selecting when to begin the descent.

This scenario tests the ability to identify a descent that the pilot controls in timing and rate. In a pilot discretion descent, the pilot decides when to start descending, how fast to descend, and may level off at an intermediate altitude before continuing toward the approach. This matches the description because the descent is not fixed by the procedure with predetermined start times or continuous glide paths; the pilot has the flexibility to choose the start point, the rate of descent, and to hold at an intermediate altitude if needed.

Continuous Descent Final Approach describes descending on a continuous glide path all the way to the runway with no step-downs or intentional level-offs, so the leveling off at an intermediate altitude wouldn’t fit. A Step-down Descent involves descending to specified intermediate altitudes at published points and leveling off at those altitudes according to the procedure, which is more about following fixed step-down fixes than exercising personal discretion on when to start the descent. Stabilized Descent refers to maintaining a stabilized approach profile and configuration once established, not selecting when to begin the descent.