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I'm trying to understand the rules about when a pilot should request an IFR approach or not. In i-02, the atc provide the clearance for the approach. But in a flight made yesterday from Needles to Bullhead in IFR, the atc mentionned to me that I was supposed to request the desired approach.

How can we know when the atc will provide the approach vs not?

Hi Pierre,

Speaking from my personal experience and understanding, please allow me to offer my answer to your question. Airports utilize certain approaches due to operational considerations that can include airspace delegation and interaction. For example, at KJFK, the VOR/DME RWY 22L/R approach is preferred over the ILS approach due to a section of airspace that is owned (as in operated by) KLGA. Unless the weather mandates the use of a particular approach, KJFK will issue the VOR/DME approach to aircraft landing on RWY 22L/R. In this circumstance, you as a pilot are not required or expected to ask for an approach since ATC will issue you the one that is appropriate for the operational procedures of the airport.

When operational considerations and weather are not concerns and you are flying into an airport that has multiple approaches, you as the PIC can make the request as to which procedure you would like to fly. This is particularly the case when the weather minimums surpass the values listed in the IAPs for the airport.

Please observe the following paragraph from FAA-H-8083, Instrument Flying Handbook:

"When landing at an airport with approach control services and where two or more IAPs are published, information on the type of approach to expect is provided in advance of arrival or vectors are provided to a visual approach. This information is broadcast either on automated terminal information service (ATIS) or by a controller. It is not furnished when the visibility is 3 miles or more and the ceiling is at or above the highest initial approach altitude established for any low altitude IAP for the airport."

My assumption is that the airport to which you were flying yesterday fell under the latter catageory of the above paragraph which therefore means you had the option to choose the requested approach procedure.

I hope that this helps to clarify your inquiry.

Blue Skies,

Anthony

In addition to Anthony's great answer above:

If you have an approach request (for a training rating, practice, or whatever reason), you should make it when checking on with the approach controller for the airport you're approaching. It can be tricky figuring out which frequency that is, though.

Actually, in the I-2, the controller is supposed to assign whichever is approach is in use at the time, given the weather. It is your job, as the test applicant, to request the approach that's mandated by the I-2 (in this case, the ILS 24). Remember, ATC plays two roles during the tests...one is the role of ATC, the other is the role of the examiner. "ATC" doesn't know that you need to shoot the ILS RWY 24 approach by default, you're just going IFR to CRQ. If it's VFR there, ATC will assign you the visual. That's why you need to become comfortable requesting the desired approach.

Thanks for the detailed clarification. Much clearer now.