'continue' as used by tower controler

On Sat, 22 May 2004 14:49:58 -0700, "Mike Noel"
wrote:

I was returning to my home base this morning and was cleared down to 4500'
from 5500' by Tucson approach (pattern altitude is 3400'). On the handoff
to the tower I called in and said I was 'through 5300'. The only words back
from the Tower were 'Cherokee 54405, continue'. This was the first time I
had received this instruction and assumed (yes, bad idea) that I was being
told to continue inbound to the pattern. I leveled at 4500' and continued
inbound. As I got closer to the pattern I asked the tower controller if I
could descend to pattern altitude. He replied that he had given me
permission on first contact. I continued on down and landed.

Is this a commonly used phraseology from ATC? I would have thought just
using the word 'continue' would be too ambiguous for the likes of the FAA.

It sounds as if the controller is abbreviating the proper use of the
phrase. From the pilot/controller glossary:

CONTINUE- When used as a control instruction should be followed by another
word or words clarifying what is expected of the pilot. Example: "continue
taxi", "continue descent", "continue inbound" etc.

However, I would assume that CONTINUE means to continue doing whatever it
was that I just told ATC I was doing. In your instance, having been
cleared to 4500' by ATC, I, too, would have asked for clarification as to
whether or not descent below my previously cleared altitude was OK.


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