I did a circling approach from an ASR at KCMI a few weeks ago, and the controller asked us to tell him when we wanted to circle. Then I asked him how close he would let us get, and he seemed to be ****ed off that I asked instead of told him I wanted to break it off at a half mile or something. I was with a student and didn't want to break it off too soon, so I was trying to be nice and find out what would work for them. From what I remember, he cleared us to land and told us to contact tower upon landing like they normally do. This was in VFR conditions on an IFR flight plan, but the winds were gusting to like 27kts and almost a direct crosswind.

Aside from the confusion of him asking us when we wanted to circle and me asking him what would work best for tower, and him getting ****y about it, the rest of the approach and landing/taxi was pretty straightforward. I'm sure different facilities do things a little bit different.

I usually take my students into KSPI because they are usually happy to give us whatever we want. Their approach controllers will usually clear you to land, and give you your on IFR clearance to leave the airport (if on IFR flight plans) and give on the go instructions, and you do the approach, tough and go, and never contact tower. Although one time because of a crosswind we did a go around and asked to land on a different runway and they told us to contact tower. I can't specifically remember if I've done any other circle to lands off of ASRs.

 

Bill, I assume you've done an ASR before. They aren't hard, but I personally would want to do one or two to be familiar with the phraseology and procedures before I'd do one on a checkride. If you haven't done one yet, then get a CFI or safety pilot (preferably someone who has done one before that can kind of help out if approach throws something weird at you) and give it a try and ask for a circle to land. Although, things like if they will let you circle, and whether or not they clear you to land or make you call up tower could vary from controller to controller or be dependent on how busy the airport is when you are flying in. If you already feel comfortable with the approach itself, then I wouldn't worry too much about the circle. Just listen extra carefully about special instructions like contacting the tower, and of course you hear the magic phrase of cleared to land runway XX.

 

In most cases the ASR/PAR controller will get the clearance to land from the tower controller and pass it on to you with instructions to contact the tower on rollout. E.g. -
"XXX tower, Cessna 123B, ASR rollout Rwy 18"

USMCFLYR

 

Whoa thanks everyone! I do this on Monday.. part of my NAV check in T1's at Vance ..I am planning to do the asr to 26 circle for left base to 18L at KTUL. Ive circled from the VOR approach to 26 several times....but I've never done the ASR to 26. Thanks! I will let you know how it goes.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwQR13ha-BE
neat video of a controller guiding a C-17

 

I saw a controller conduct a PAR for a student recently at Ft. Sill, OK.
It was older model of radar - TPN-40 if I remember - and I thought it looked like a combination of the a seismograph, EKG, and the Matrix!

USMCFLYR

 

How about a total electrical failure in a Cessna 172 near Flint, Michigan, in the winter while IFR, talking on a handheld radio That's a great time for an ASR.

Back then the class C was called an ARSA though!

 

Exactly. A talking ILS....on speed!