"Greg Esres" wrote in message
...

Wrong. There is no intermediate segment. The approach begins at
MANDD, period.


Did you look at the chart I posted?



I've already discussed this approach with the Flight Procedures folk,
who all agree that the chart doesn't permit a descent until you get on
a black line, which starts at the FAF.


Well, then, the flight procedures folks are wrong, the chart clearly permits
a descent to 2000 MSL once established on the localizer outside of MANDD.
Do you see the underlined 2000 figure immediately left of the maltese cross
in the profile view? Did you think that was just there for decorative
purposes?



How could you conceivably think otherwise?


Because that's the way it is. Whatever gave you the idea you couldn't
descend to a published altitude once established on an instrument approach
procedure?



The controller has already admitted he was wrong; after making a lot
of phone calls, he found the guy that designed the approach.


Sounds like the controller was just humoring you.