On Fri, 09 Apr 2004 23:06:49 -0500, "O. Sami Saydjari"
wrote:

Sorry. Yes, I believe he cleared me for the SDF RWY 2 approach,
maintain 3000 until established on the localizer. It has been several
weeks, so this is my best recollection of what was said to me.

Well, if your recollection is accurate, there is a problem with that
clearance. From what you wrote previously, I am assuming you were on a
random route (i.e. not on a published route).

I believe you should have been given an altitude to maintain until NEPCO;
or not cleared for the approach until established on the localizer and then
given a distance to NEPCO and/or an altitude to maintain of 2600' if this
were a VTF clearance. (There may be other phraseology; I'm not a
controller).

I would not have assumed anything from that clearance with regard to VTF.

If the clearance was, in fact, maintain 3000 until NEPCO, I would have
executed the PT to lose altitude to 2600, probably using a racetrack
maneuver.

If the clearance was, in fact, maintain 3000 until intercepting the
localizer, I would have asked ATC for my distance from NEPCO and, if I was
within the PT distance, asked them specifically if this was "vectors to
final". I would NOT have used "readback what I want" trick and hope that
ATC would catch the error if they made it. Why be indirect and take a
chance on confusion, when you can ask your question directly?


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)