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3 Answers

Do i need to hear “cleared for approach”

Asked by: 1267 views Instrument Rating

So ATC says fly heading 230 untill estabiled on the localizer.  Thats it, then they go onto other aircraft.. So I'm establised inbound at almost at the FAF then they come back and say " cleared for the Rnav 8L approach"    I assumed at that point I was already, should I have asked earlier if i was cleared?  do I need to hear those words before calling tower?  thanks

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3 Answers



  1. Bryan on Nov 16, 2021

    Yes. Heading XYZ until established on the localizer is basically just two headings, right? You didn’t include it in your scenario, but ATC probably also had you at a given altitude. The localizer is lateral guidance only so you can be established at any altitude in the coverage of the signal. But you are not authorized to descend from the altitude assigned by ATC until you are either told to descend and maintain some altitude or cleared for the approach–which clears you to fly all the way down to the runway (assuming appropriate visibility, landing clearance from the tower, etc.).

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  2. Mark Kolber on Nov 16, 2021

    A heading “until established in the Localizer” – better form of the instruction is “join the localizer” – is a lateral instruction only. “Cleared for the approach” allows you to descend. I’ve known if pilots who didn’t know that and got a nice phone call from the FAA for the pilot deviation.

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  3. John D Collins on Nov 17, 2021

    One question, why would you be cleared via a heading until established on the localizer of an RNAV approach? Did you mean fly a heading until established on the final approach course or something like that?

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