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Descending for Approach 2

Asked by: 4224 views Flight Instructor

This is a follow-on to a question (copied below) from June 2013.

I understand being on a segment of a published route BUT let's  say I am not cleared on a specific route (Victor Airway) and given the following. "Cleared ABC VOR direct XYZ VOR then via the XYZ 346 radial to NAMIT, cleared for the VOR/DME RWY 23 approach. NAMIT is an IAP for the planned approach. The 346 radial happens to coincide with a Victor Airway (call it V-12) listed on the ELA Chart. I was never cleared via V-12 airway. The 346 radial is shown on the Approach Chart as the radial to the IAP with no Airway and no lower altitude listed with the radial. Once on the 346 radial, can I presume that I am on the Victor airway and begin my descent to the MEA listed on the ELA for tha airway.

I have an IFR question and hope someone can point me in the right direction. Here's my question:You are flying on an airway above the MEA (for example, at an assigned altitude of 10,000 feet and the MEA is 8,000). The airway ends at the IAF of the approach (the VOR of a VOR approach), but the airway is not a feeder route shown the approach chart.If the controller just says "Cleared for VOR Approach Runway XX," can you descend down to the MEA (or MOCA if within 22 nm), or do you have to wait until you cross the VOR and then start your descent down to the altitude shown on the approach chart?According to the Jeppesen textbook, you can descend down to the MEA/MOCA right away. Obviously, you could ask the controller for clarification, but I am trying to find in the AIM or other FAA book where it spells this out.

1 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Nov 02, 2014

    I would think that if the airway followed the XYZ VOR 346 radial and that both the XYZ VOR and the IAF were on the airway, one could descend to the MEA for that airway segment with the clearance for the approach. One would have to observe the IAF altitude if it were higher than the MEA along the airway. The fact that the 346 radial is shown on the approach chart without an altitude, indicates it is not a feeder route (a feeder route goes from an airway fix to an IAF and this radial is part of an airway) and only used to define the IAF waypoint. However, as you described the airway, it is defined by the same radial and it does have an MEA. It is therefore a segment of a published route. The route between ABC direct XYZ may or may not be a published route, and if not, you would be expected to maintain the last assigned altitude for this segment if this is not part of a published route.

    91.175 (i) specifies:

    (i) Operations on unpublished routes and use of radar in instrument approach procedures. When radar is approved at certain locations for ATC purposes, it may be used not only for surveillance and precision radar approaches, as applicable, but also may be used in conjunction with instrument approach procedures predicated on other types of radio navigational aids. Radar vectors may be authorized to provide course guidance through the segments of an approach to the final course or fix. When operating on an unpublished route or while being radar vectored, the pilot, when an approach clearance is received, shall, in addition to complying with Sec. 91.177, maintain the last altitude assigned to that pilot until the aircraft is established on a segment of a published route or instrument approach procedure unless a different altitude is assigned by ATC. After the aircraft is so established, published altitudes apply to descent within each succeeding route or approach segment unless a different altitude is assigned by ATC. Upon reaching the final approach course or fix, the pilot may either complete the instrument approach in accordance with a procedure approved for the facility or continue a surveillance or precision radar approach to a landing.

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