Disarray

They're called escape routes and are published under a variety of names. Their use is common in the NY Metro. The idea is to keep flights moving when restrictions in the enroute environment are precluding the use of normal routes & altitudes.

Duke787

Not uncommon. I’ve flown on flights like this for NYC - RDU and NYC - DCA — usually consists of a regional jet and captain basically saying that due to weather and restricted airspace it was a choice between low altitude/higher fuel burn or potentially not getting a takeoff slot that night.

Not exclusive to DL either. Had family in town visiting a few weeks back and their AA flight down from LGA to RDU had a similar routing and altitude.

A couple times I’ve lucked out with FAs who still served F or knew it was coming and gave folks plastic cups and extra minis on the ground before takeoff

Dan6681

Yes, escape route was the exact wording the captain used. Very smooth flight. IFR is generally conducted at 6,000 for example where VFR 6,500.

I’m guessing the entire flight was IFR. Thunderstorms had been in the area but had dissipated.

PLeblond

Glad I found this thread. Was checking a buddies inbound for a flight later today and noticed DL5116 JFK-RDU was at 6,000ft. Found that strange, but I see its not an outlier.

lindros2

I guess I missed the part of the topic that these are CRJ jets. I've done that a bunch, including Pacific Northwest (YVR > SEA) under normal circumstances.

(or the earlier turboprop)

Directly related to this thread (RIC > NYC), having commuted there from NYC and ATL, I've faced in a line of storms (diagonally from Richmond south and north, across the Appalachian Mountains), which dictate flying low.

ND76

I remember doing a trip on mainline DL DCA-ATL some years ago on a football Saturday in September when there was a hurricane bearing down on the Gulf of Mexico, and we flew at 20,000 feet or less the entire way. I don't think we had any service on the flight, but the pilots poured on the gas as we got all the way to ATL in 75 minutes (the usual trip takes at least 82 minutes). It was i the 6 am hour and the flight was 100% full.

HDQDD

I too have flown some of these NYC escape routes (always to RDU in my case). Most recently on a EWR-RDU flight about two months ago. We did finally ascend to a higher (normal) altitude on my last one. In a window seat it can seem a little concerning to be so close to the ground for so long. In all cases, the pilots gave a PA announcing that we’d be flying an escape route. Otherwise I could see people getting freaked out.

PLeblond

I'd pay extra for a window seat on a flight like that!!

ekozie

ime on the SERMN SOUTH routes pilots usually coordinate with FAs to provide service and allow restroom access at 6/7/8k feet (depending on specific advisory). sometimes, usually later at night when there's less traffic, we'll be cleared up to 14k or 16k feet somewhere over VA for the last bit. these flights (in my case, usually to RDU as well), usually add about 40-50% more flying time due to speed restrictions for all aircraft under 10k ft, but it's the same amount of delay or less than flying the route with a sweeping arc westward over Ohio and then back south and east, which I've done several times as well.

it should never be a surprise: SERMN SOUTH RQD/RMD will be filed by the FAA as an advisory. the only surprise is sometimes SERMN SOUTH RQD is filed, and the flight plan may even be filed for 6k feet, but the specific flight receives an exemption to fly at a normal altitude/routing.

Out of my Element

Do they actually use the term "Escape Route"? Because I could see *that* freaking the passengers out a bit, too

Ascii

I've been on a few of these where the low altitude was mentioned in the context of a potentially longer flight, but no mention of us having to "escape."

gernabae

When you're sitting on an interminable ramp delay, escape sounds sweet to the ears. Of course, you probably don't want to overhear that you are going to be a "pathfinder," if you have some trepidation about flying in and around weather. I've had successful pathfinder flights, and some not-so-successful pathfinder flights.