A few weeks ago I flew a practice GPS RWY 24 approach into ELM. I don't
recall the exact heading coming in, but it was in the sector leading to
CIMAN. I'm new to GPS approaches having just returned after several
years of inactivity, and still haven't got all the nuances figured out.
I expected from what I've read about GPS approaches to be cleared to
CIMAN to commence the approach, then sequence to MAPOE, CERUP, etc. with
no PT. Instead, the controller cleared me to MAPOE. At that point I
wasn't sure exactly what was expected, but I was flying with an
instructor and he said I'd need to fly the PT in this case. I thought
when you came in a certain TAA that you'd fly to the fix for that area
and then fly the approach. However, in the case of this approach, this
would preclude use of the PT for all cases as CIMAN and BUTRE are both
noPT and the TAA leading directly to MAPOE is also marked noPT. So,
that would seem to make the PT unnecessary other than in the case I was
given which is a direct approach to MAPOE from other than the TAA
indicated for MAPOE.

Is this a common occurrence when flying GPS approaches? Is this the
only scenario where the PT is applicable in this case?


Matt