On Mon, 31 Oct 2005 10:29:53 -0800, wrote:

The FAA recognized that a mistake had been made in the recent revision
to the AIM concerning course reversals; that the wording was in conflict
with the 1994 legal interpretation on the issue.

At last week's FAA/Industry Aeronautical Charting Forum the following
language was adopted to replace the recent change in AIM language.
Because of the long lead time in amending the AIM, the following
language will soon appear in the NTAP (Notice to Airmen Publication)
portion of the FAA's web site:

Never paid any attention to it.
Under vectors they bring me around to an intercept on an inbound
heading. No reversal is needed.
I've never been "cleared for the approach" with vectors until I was
relatively close to the actual inbound approach course. If I were
outbound and cleared for the approach I'd do the whole thing or ask
*their* intentions/expectations.

I have been asked if I'd like vectors or would like to do the whole
approach when it was obvious I was out practicing having already done
at least 6 or so approaches over the past hour or two, or if it was a
beautiful VFR day and I'm doing approaches.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

"New: Revised October 18, 2005

5-4-9. Procedure Turn

A procedure turn is the maneuver prescribed when it is necessary to
reverse direction to establish the aircraft inbound on an intermediate
or final approach course. The procedure turn or hold-in-lieu-of-PT is a
required maneuver when it is depicted on the approach chart. However,
the procedure turn or hold-in-lieu-of-PT is not permitted when the
symbol "No PT" is depicted on the initial segment being used, when a
RADAR VECTOR to the final approach course is provided, or when
conducting a timed approach from a holding fix. The altitude
prescribed for the procedure turn is a minimum altitude until the
aircraft is established on the inbound course. The maneuver must be
completed within the distance specified in the profile view.
Note
The pilot may elect to use the procedure turn or hold-in-lieu-of-PT when
it is not required by the procedure, but must first receive an amended
clearance from ATC. When ATC is Radar vectoring to the final approach
course or to the Intermediate Fix, ATC may specify in the approach
clearance “CLEARED STRAIGHT-IN (type) APPROACH” to insure the procedure
turn or hold-in-lieu-of-PT is not to be flown. If the pilot is
uncertain whether the ATC clearance intends for a procedure turn to be
conducted or to allow for a straight-in approach, the pilot shall
immediately request clarification from ATC (14 CFR Part 91.123). "