Altitude change greater than 6,000 feet up to FL310 requires joint approval. True or false?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Only with dispatcher approval

Answer: (A)

When you need to change altitude by more than 6,000 feet up to flight level 310, both the captain and the dispatcher must approve the change together. This joint approval ensures the new altitude is workable for routing, weather, turbulence, traffic, and fuel planning, and that it complies with ATC constraints and company policies. The dispatcher reviews whether the requested climb or descent is allowed along the route, checks for any altitude restrictions, and confirms there’s adequate fuel for the updated plan. The crew and dispatcher work as a team to confirm the change before it’s implemented and communicated to ATC. This specific requirement applies to altitudes up to FL310; rules may differ at higher levels.