Well, it might not happen that way. When you ask if you're cleared for
the approach, the controller responds "negative, maintain five thousand,
I'll have clearance for you shortly."

Then I'd have to tell him we either start down now or we'll need vectors for
another shot at it. Why can't he clear me now?

Ok, I'll buy that. (I know... generous of me.

I don't know why he can't clear you now. Perhaps there's a departure, a
traffic conflict, a handoff issue, a staffing shortage, or the
controller's pencil rolled behind the console. Whatever it is, it's not
something I'd be questioning him about on the radio.

And despite the relative calmness at GRB, there are places where one
can't get a word in edgewise. I fly in the Northeast, and it is not at
all uncommon, especially at a handoff.

No I'm not [at five thousand and five miles from DEPRE, when you
get the approach clearance]. I'm either being vectored for another shot at
the approach or I've been cleared for it and have started down on the GS.

Suppose, for whatever reason, the controller does not respond when you
tell him "we either start down now or we'll need vectors for another
shot at it". For example, the airplane behind you has a
misunderstanding and goes the wrong way, and needs to be coddled back
into place, and a third aircraft comes into the picture. It's well and
good that you can change the scenario on Usenet, but you can't change it
in the air. It is whatever it is.

In any case, I would conclude (synthesize) from what you have said so
far, that in this case, when you are given the approach clearance at
five thousand feet, five miles from DEPRE, you would refuse the
clearance and request vectors (or perhaps a hold at DEPRE to lose altitude).

But, upon lost com (which could be a problem with ground transmitters,
as well as a hardware issue with the volume control or PTT, I expect
you'd want to get down most expiditiously. (you've been cleared for the
approach)

What I would do is probably enter a descending hold at DEPRE and proceed
inbound from there. One turn ought to get me down to approach altitude.
I suspect you'd do something similar.

Am I right?

Jose
--
Get high on gasoline: fly an airplane.
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