On 24 Nov 2005 07:19:39 -0800, "Andrew Sarangan"
wrote:

While flying at 3000 ft, I get a clearance that says "maintain 3000
until established on the localizer, cleared ILS...." If I am already
at 3000, what exactly is the purpose of "maintain 3000"?

The purpose of the "maintain 3000" is to caution the pilot that the
approach clearance does not imply that he can start descending right
away.

In this context, I take the "maintain 3000 until established" to mean
"maintain at least 3000 until establshed".

If it were an instruction to descend, it would have been issued as
"descend and maintain".

Another way of thinking of about it would be a clearance that says,
"Descend to and maintain 3000 until established, cleared for the
approach."

Maintain 3000 until established is what you get when you are alread at
the altitude ATC wans.

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