Option Approach

[Joseph II]

You are practicing instrument approaches and request the missed for another approach. The controller clears you for the option.

I understand the general idea behind the option approach, but my question is if you told the controller you wanted to go missed, he cleared you for the option, can you then proceed to do a touch-and-go, or a full stop? Or, was the controller expecting you to go missed only?

Tnx

 

[CFIjim]

You are cleared to do any of the following: a touch and go, stop and go, full stop landing, low approach or missed approach according to the pilot/controller glossary.

 

[Bill Mostellar]

You are cleared to do any of the following: a touch and go, stop and go, full stop landing, low approach or missed approach according to the pilot/controller glossary.

Jim is correct.

Even if you're planning to go-around, the controller will give you the option because you're already in the airspace. Gulfport (GPT) used to clear us for everything except a stop-and-go, though that would've been difficult in a Learjet

, given the runway length.

 

[Joseph II]

Ok, let me spin the question another way...

The pilot says he would like to fly the ILS followed by a missed approach to vectors for another approach...

Tower clears him for the option.

The tower is probably expecting a missed approach and then to give alt/heading instructions for the missed...

So, don't you think the controller would be startled when the pilot decides to go full stop just after asking for a missed?

Tnx

 

[TankerDriver]

"So, don't you think the controller would be startled when the pilot decides to go full stop just after asking for a missed?"

Most likely, since the pilot told the controller one thing and did something else. At most busy airports, if you ask to specifically do a published missed approach, tower will most likely get the word from the approach controller and clear you for the low approach.

 

[cshelton]

The controller may ask what your intentions are if you make a full stop. The thing is he cleared you for the option so he plans his traffic sequencing to keep everyone clear of your runway until he sees what option you have chose. For example, if you have intersecting runways, he may give you a LAHSO so the guy on the other runway can take off in front of you. Or if he cleared you for the option he will wait and see what you do before he clears the other guy for takeoff.