PilotEdge Forums

From PDZ the routing is to fly the PDZ270 then fly the HHR LOC. Very doable except when I am at a lower altitude I am unable to pick up LOC from that distance out. Last time, I joined the LOC straight in using the GPS. Although the intercept was expected the way I did it wouldn't work without a GPS and is just incorrect. What is the correct way to do this?
Also, when i was actually established on the approach I told the controller established. I was told to cross WELLZ at 4000 and cleared the approach straight in??? The approach consists of crossing Wellz at exactly 2700', not higher not lower, and to make it harder HASHY needs to be crossed AT 1500. I told her I needed lower and the lowest she would give me is 3000. Nevermind the straight in part, no procedure turns allowed anyway.

Any light shed on the correct way to fly the ONTN3 after PDZ would be appreciated. Also, from someone who understands the atc side of assigning approaches, are you allowed to clear someone for an approach and assign them an altitude prohibited by the chart? "Cross WELLZ at 4000" or even 3000 deviates from the approach chart.

If you're not receiving the localizer, advise the controller and they will monitor your progress to make sure you don't overfly the track. They can also provide vectors until you do receive the localizer.

The controller should not have issued an instruction to cross WELLZ at 4000, nor should they have cleared you for the straight-in approach when there was no ambiguity about a procedure turn (the approach doesn't have published PT). If you can email ops@pilotedge.net with the date, time and reference to this thread, we'll look into it.

The MVA 11 miles east of WELLZ is 3000, but then drops to 2500 after that.

Yes, it's possible for ATC to assign altitudes that or higher or lower than what the chart calls for, particularly when you're being vectored to the final approach course, however it shouldn't have been needed in this case. The 2700 restriction at WELLZ is for vertical separation with another flow.

You could've been kept at the 3k MVA on the localizer, and then once clear of the 3K MVA, "cross WELLZ at 2700, cleared localizer runway 25 approach."

thanks Keith. I feel like I'm your guy's #1 complainer but I really do appreciate all of you and your program.

When it comes to raising operational issues, we take every single case on its merits. What you've described is worthy of further inquiry, so that's what will do.