ATC clearance for landing + descents in the pattern

I got landing clearance while still 10 miles away and not in the traffic
pattern at all.
BT

"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...
In my sim, ATC always clears me for landing in the pattern just as I
come abeam of the threshold before turning to base. Does real-life
ATC also make a point of giving final landing clearance at this
particular point (or at any other specific point), or is this just an
idiosyncrasy of the simulator?

Also, the books I read say you are supposed to start your descent as
you come abeam of the threshold. Do you actually practice this in
real life, or do you wait until you are on base/final? In my case, it
doesn't seem hard to lose the last 1000 feet, and somehow I feel more
warm and fuzzy if I keep that 1000 feet until I have the runway in
front of me and I'm aligned enough to know that I can come in.

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