ATC Timing

[TexFly]

That's what happened:

I'm flying from KWJF to KMRY, getting close to KMRI and in touch with APP. I request change of altitude (approved) to start descending to the ATP.

APP tells me something like "straight ahead 28L" I reply and start getting busy with the landing procedures (Lear 45). When I'm almost touching ground I get a call from APP saying contact tower. At that point I just landed and Tower scolded me. I shouldn't have landed without TWR clearance. However the call to switch to TWR came realllllly late.

What's the right thing to do?

Just learning, not complaining.

Thanks!

[Ryan Geckler]

Ask. Don't just land. Ask "Hey, should we switch to tower?" Sometimes we're busy coordinating things and we may miss something. Always ask.

[TexFly]

Ok, it makes sense.

[Orest Skrypuch]

Landing without explicit clearance to do so, typically from the Tower, is high up on the list of no-no's. A good learning experience for you, here on PE.

* Orest

[julio.elizalde]

Often on RW frequencies, you'll hear airliners call in saying something like, "JBU390 to tower?" with a busy final approach controller. This usually will jolt the controller to send you to the next frequency. I've noticed when ILS approaches are in use, controllers will often instruct an aircraft to contact the tower over a specific fix. With visual approaches it isn't necessarily as organized. Hope these observations help.

[TexFly]

Usually the call is made on time therefore you get used to be walked through. Then you get busy with the landing checklist and forget you need to switch to something else...

I should have gone in a holding pattern until clearance.

[Orest Skrypuch]

.... I should have gone in a holding pattern until clearance.

Well, on reaching the DH or MAP without clearance to land, initiate the go-around first, full power, accelerate, clean up and climb, then fly the published missed approach (unless otherwise advised prior), and only then go into a hold as published on the missed.

Not sure if you were thinking the following, but never initiate a hold in the final approach segment.

* Orest

[julio.elizalde]

Flying a holding pattern on the final approach could be disastrous for an aircraft a few miles behind. If you feel that landing clearance will come late, the best thing to do is alert the final approach controller that you're declaring a missed approach. In that case, that controller can properly coordinate with the departure controller that will assume responsibility of you once you're on the other end of the runway, and the tower controller to hold any potential departures and/or VFR transition aircraft that could interfere with you at altitude above the field.

As I said before, asking for the frequency change if you feel the controller is distracted is the best way to avoid such a situation. Great question, though!

[Alex Stjepanovic]

APP tells me something like "straight ahead 28L"

Cleared straight in visual approach runway 28L.

When I'm almost touching ground I get a call from APP saying contact tower. At that point I just landed and Tower scolded me. I shouldn't have landed without TWR clearance. However the call to switch to TWR came realllllly late.

The frequency change occurred a few miles from the runway, and no, the controller(myself) wasn't distracted, as there were only one or two planes in the entire ZOA airspace altogether.

I reply and start getting busy with the landing procedures (Lear 45).
...
What's the right thing to do?

If you find the plane difficult to operate, a simpler plane for starters might do it.