Canuck
David Megginson
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2016
- Messages
- 7,077
- Reaction score
- 3,867
Interesting discussion over on PoA. What does "until established" mean in an approach clearance? Does it mean you can still descend to MSA (in Canada) or TAA (in the U.S.) as soon as you're in range, or does it mean you actually have to be on a published segment of the approach before descending? I've always assumed the latter, e.g. if a controller told me
"Cleared direct XXXXX for the MyAirport RNAV 30 approach, maintain 3,000 ft until established"
I'd maintain 3,000 ft until XXXXX and then start my descent (assuming that XXXXX is an initial approach waypoint). Most of the pilots on PoA say that you're "established" as soon as you're within TAA range (for the U.S.), even if you're not on a leg of the approach yet.
The interesting point is that the person who posted the original query was already well within 10 nm of the initial waypoint for the approach when ATC gave them the altitude restriction, so if being within TAA range meant that the pilot was already "established", then the altitude restriction would have been meaningless.
"Cleared direct XXXXX for the MyAirport RNAV 30 approach, maintain 3,000 ft until established"
I'd maintain 3,000 ft until XXXXX and then start my descent (assuming that XXXXX is an initial approach waypoint). Most of the pilots on PoA say that you're "established" as soon as you're within TAA range (for the U.S.), even if you're not on a leg of the approach yet.
The interesting point is that the person who posted the original query was already well within 10 nm of the initial waypoint for the approach when ATC gave them the altitude restriction, so if being within TAA range meant that the pilot was already "established", then the altitude restriction would have been meaningless.
