Enroute to Approach transitions
 

What is the best way to file and fly to an airport that has only 1 or 2 approaches using a transition? Normally how I teach my students is look for a fix or VOR on the enroute chart that is on as many approaches at the airport as possible. That way you could navigate yourself onto the approach with out ATC interaction (in a radio com loss situation). Generally, I get my approach instructions from ATC prior to that fix.

Let's say you look at an airport and it has 2 approaches, each with a VOR that can be used to transition from the enroute to the approach. I file my airways to that VOR. For instance, KBAT D-> ABC V555 XYZ and the destination is KHIJ, where XYZ is the VOR that can be used to transition onto the approaches. However, upon reaching the XYZ VOR you have received no ATC instructions. Do you proceed along the route to the initial approach fix for which ever approach is most suitable? Would they expect you to do that? This is assuming normal radio communication and you were "cleared to the HIJ airport as filed"

The situation that happened with me was similar: we reached the XYZ VOR but we were with another approach. IE we would have to be handed off to someone else before we got an approach clearance.

If XYZ is a feeder fix for two different approaches and you have normal radio com, you could ask ATC which way they want you to go. They should tell you before you get there. If XYZ isn't in the destination's airspace, they'll know what the destination airport wants you to do. If you lose your radios it's your choice.

Were you cleared to XYZ, or to HIJ ? (you answered your own question)

If there was a transition from XYZ, fly it. If not, you'll have to figure out a logical way to get there. Tough to second guess on the forum without a bit more info. For instance, lets say there's a mountain between XYZ and HIJ ? Causes some new head scratching !!!

Here's what ATC will not expect (although I've seen it instructed / done this way), and that is for you starting to hold at XYZ. Now nobody has any idea what you might do next, PLUS, you've basically just shut the airport down until they do figure it out.

You were cleared to the airport. Go there. Hope your transponder works !! ATC will move planes out of your way when they see that you're making the logical moves. Goofy holding and other non-planned flying in circles will put everybody into defense mode.

Plan the flight, fly the plan.

Now, emergencies (losing a comm radio doesn't generally rate an emergency in my book, but I'm sure there are instructors teaching otherwise) might require different planning (like losing the comm and nav!).

I'll add that there is that FAR about IFR flight plan losing comm, and then entering VMC, to land at nearest suitable airport (too lazy to look up). That's also a good idea if you don't know what caused the comm malfunction and you see a perfectly good airport to land on (and make a phone call from to tell ATC you didn't crash).

My .02

Query/Let ATC know what you're doing or ask what they want

Listen to see what the guys ahead of you are getting as the approach.

Choose the approach with the mins appropriate to the current wx. The higher the wx, the more approach options, which of the two make the most sense to get on the ground expediently and safely?

That's what I assumed was that you are permitted, even with out ATC telling you to do so, to start a transition (this is non-towered airport example). Actually, I don't think a mountain would cause a problem. The transition provides a radial, distance and altitude. Compliance with the altitude provides IFR obstacle clearances :)

My response was, obviously, being filed to a VOR that did not have any published method to get to the IAF.

>>>>>> If there was a transition from XYZ, fly it. If not, you'll have to figure out a logical way to get there. <<<<<<

I think what Snipper is asking is whether he actually cleared to the destination airport if not specifically cleared for and assigned an approach around the time of wanting to do it. He thinks maybe he should not do an approach until getting assigned one, and should hold to sort things out. Is this a correct summary, Snipper?

If it is then I agree with Tony; just pick an approach suitable for the weather and fly it. You are cleared to the destination airport already. Particularly if not in a radar environment it is troublesome for ATC to have an aircraft flying holds somewhere when he is cleared for some approach.