Situation #1: Making a Procedure Turn

Seems clear enough, doesn't it? But here's what happened to a GA pilot flying the SBA (Santa Barbara, California) VOR/GPS 25 approach in IMC:

On IFR clearance to SBA. Final waypoint in that clearance is KWANG, from which a straight-in approach via the SBA VOR/GPS 25 approach is indicated. Received radar vectors for sequencing prior to KWANG, then "proceed direct ZACKS (the FAF and also an IAF), maintain 2,100 until established, cleared GPS 25 approach." Shortly thereafter, I was instructed to contact the Tower. Per AIM 5-4-9, a procedure turn is required with this clearance. ATC provided no radar vector to intercept the final approach course, nor did ATC assign a "straight-in approach." Considered as an IAF, ZACKS does not have a "NoPT" indication, vs. KWANG, which does. The fact that the assigned altitude (2,100 feet) was below the 3,000 foot floor of the outbound procedure turn segment aroused my suspicion. I queried the Tower Controller, who informed me not to perform the course reversal and proceed straight in. I was able to do so safely and landed without incident.

In my opinion, this misunderstanding could have resulted in a very serious situation. Were another aircraft cleared straight-in for the same approach behind me, and had I performed the course reversal, there would have been two aircraft, in IMC, heading in opposite directions, at the same altitude, following the highly precise GPS course. In discussions with others, confusion over procedure turns in radar and RNAV environments seems surprisingly common, both among pilots and controllers…Perhaps ATC should consider including "cleared via straight in" or "cleared via procedure turn" in all approach clearances to obviate similar misunderstandings.

Situation #2: Making a Hold-in-Lieu-of PT

A Cessna 182 pilot flying a non-precision approach to DMW (Carroll County Regional Airport, Maryland) experienced the same "cone of confusion" as the pilot in Situation #1 when attempting to comply with the published requirement for a course reversal. The flight was in IMC.

I was on a short 20-minute flight to DMW. After receiving several vectors for traffic flow, I was cleared direct to EMI, the IAF for the approach, when I was about 10 nm away from the VOR. The controller subsequently cleared me for the VOR Runway 34 approach at DMW, and I proceeded to execute the hold-in-lieu-of-a-procedure-turn per the published procedure. While I was on the outbound leg of the hold, the controller told me that he 'did not clear me for the procedure turn,' and told me that he needed me to turn inbound right away. I immediately complied, and completed the approach.

I believe I was executing the approach properly, per the guidance stated in the AIM, but it was distracting and concerning when there seems to be a disconnect between what I as the pilot believes should be flown, and what the controller believes should be flown in terms of the approach. In my limited experience flying IFR, there seems to be a continued confusion between pilots and ATC regarding whether or not the hold-in-lieu-of-a-procedure-turn should be flown. This confusion is especially distracting to a pilot who must remain focused on flying a non-precision approach in IMC....

The guidance is straightforward: If vectors are not being provided, and you are cleared direct to the IAF, then fly the entire approach as published.

ASRS called this pilot back to ask for more details. The pilot stated that the Approach Controller was busy and reacted strongly when the approach wasn't flown straight in. The words "straight in" were not part of the approach clearance. A local FAA designated check airman later concurred with this pilot's understanding of the procedures involved.

Situation #3: Expecting a Straight-In Approach

A corporate jet flight crew relearned a basic aviation lesson: When in doubt, always ask.

We were en route to BVS [Skagit County Regional Airport, Washington] for an approach RNAV Runway 10. ATC cleared us direct to SOCLO intersection, the IAF. We were on a north heading. A clearance was later given to cross SOLCO intersection at 4,000 feet and cleared for the RNAV 10 approach. Since we were at 4,000 feet and the initial altitude for the approach was 3,900 feet and we were not on a transition, we assumed…to be cleared for straight-in. At SOLCO we turned inbound and resumed the approach without entering the procedure turn. Whidby Approach informed us that we were not cleared for a straight-in and that we should have conducted the full approach.

The problem could have been avoided and I think that complacency was the main factor. We do numerous approaches yearly and when we are flying at the initial altitude and being vectored or cleared to a fix, ATC always clears us for a straight-in approach. Lesson learned is that always ask when in doubt.

This reporter's advice brings us full circle to the AIM. The note to section 5-4-9-a adds: "If the pilot is uncertain whether the ATC clearance intends for a procedure turn to be conducted or to allow for a straight-in approach, the pilot shall immediately request clarification from ATC (14 CFR Section 91.123)."