In VMC it's no big deal. In IMC with terrain if I didn't get an
immediate response (or the freq was busy) I'd invoke 91.3 and
intercept. There have been fatalities from people crossing the loc
and hitting terrain. I'd rather not be one.
Funny you bring that up...there's an airport with an ILS in a 3800' MVA that
we vector to final for all the time. When issuing a base leg turn, the
controllers tell the aircraft, "if no instructions are received prior to
reaching the localizer, intercept the localizer inbound and advise." The
airport is less than 5 miles from a 9500' MVA and the base leg points the
aircraft right at the Olympic Mountains! So in that instance, since the
pilot was instructed to intercept the LOC, that's what I'd expect.
Elsewhere, I'd just expect the pilot to say something like Scott wrote,
"Approach, N12345, do you want us to join the localizer?"
I don't take it as sarcastic if an aircraft advises me they're flying
thought the localizer. Most of my vectors to final are to a PAR or ACLS FAC
so if I make a late turn to final I usually have some final controller
yelling at me from across the room. If you have to advise me you're through
the FAC it's probably too late and I was probably busy with something else
and missed your turn to final since we're supposed to tell the aircraft when
to expect a vector across the FAC.
from 7110.65 (
http://www2.faa.gov/atpubs/ATC/Chp5/atc0509.html#5-9-3):
5-9-3. VECTORS ACROSS FINAL APPROACH COURSE
Inform the aircraft whenever a vector will take it across the final approach
course and state the reason for such action.
NOTE-
In the event you are unable to so inform the aircraft, the pilot is not
expected to turn inbound on the final approach course unless approach
clearance has been issued.
PHRASEOLOGY-
EXPECT VECTORS ACROSS FINAL FOR (purpose).
EXAMPLE-
"EXPECT VECTORS ACROSS FINAL FOR SPACING."
REFERENCE-
FAAO 7110.65, Final Approach Course Interception, Para 5-9-2.
73,
Bud
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