Some manner of complaint about ZDV's reticence to issue block altitudes.

Attributes
ACN	143115
Time
Date	199004
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gld
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 43000 msl bound upper : 45000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 10000
ASRS Report	143115
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

ZDV has a rule that no block altitudes except for aircraft experiencing turbulence. We requested block 43000-45000' with first den sector and were granted climb to FL430-450. On frequency switch to next west sector center told us to descend to FL430. After initiating descent we informed ATC that we had light/mod chop FL430 100 mi back. They indicated that they had a PIREP of no turbulence at FL430. Upon reaching FL430 the turbulence/chop started. We asked what type of aircraft filed the PIREP and were told controller was too busy to answer. We told ATC of chop and requested higher. We were granted block FL430-450.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SOME MANNER OF COMPLAINT ABOUT ZDV'S RETICENCE TO ISSUE BLOCK ALTS.

Narrative: ZDV HAS A RULE THAT NO BLOCK ALTS EXCEPT FOR ACFT EXPERIENCING TURB. WE REQUESTED BLOCK 43000-45000' WITH FIRST DEN SECTOR AND WERE GRANTED CLB TO FL430-450. ON FREQ SWITCH TO NEXT W SECTOR CENTER TOLD US TO DSND TO FL430. AFTER INITIATING DSNT WE INFORMED ATC THAT WE HAD LIGHT/MOD CHOP FL430 100 MI BACK. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY HAD A PIREP OF NO TURB AT FL430. UPON REACHING FL430 THE TURB/CHOP STARTED. WE ASKED WHAT TYPE OF ACFT FILED THE PIREP AND WERE TOLD CTLR WAS TOO BUSY TO ANSWER. WE TOLD ATC OF CHOP AND REQUESTED HIGHER. WE WERE GRANTED BLOCK FL430-450.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.