ICAO Approach Clearance

[AC560]

Why wouldn't you just ask the controller if you were unclear? Seems to me to be the safest option given you weren't sure whether you were correct or the F/O was.

 

[ratvis]

Why wouldn't you just ask the controller if you were unclear? Seems to me to be the safest option given you weren't sure whether you were correct or the F/O was.

We had a safe solution to the question. Asking the controller if we could descend to 3000' would not have answered the initial question of whether her approach clearance implied a further descent.

Getting into a conversation about the finer points of an approach clearance with a foreign controller while preparing for a full procedure would probably not be the safest option.

Does that answer your question?

 

[linder]

They don't have to state that in the states. In radar environments it seems they often state that, but non-radar it is hit or miss. If you were on an airway with a published MEA or MOCA, you can descend to that altitude (whichever is applicable) before reaching the IAF. If you were on a direct routing, then I would stay at 6000.

They do have to issue the altitude unless you are on a published "routing" which shows an MEA, etc. It is the result of the TWA accident in Virginia many years ago. ATP 7110.65, section 4-8-1 (b) (2).