Clear for approach to an uncontrolled airport, only issued
when there is no other IFR [conflicting] traffic in the
system.
No instructions to "descend and maintain" means you can
remain at your altitude after the IFR approach clearance is
issued, the maintain 4,000 is required by FAA procedure
since the airline 727 descended to IAP and hit a mountain
near DC about 30 years ago.
A Cruise clearance allows you to fly any legal and safe
altitude at pilots discretion, climbing back to altitude if
desired, as long as the pilot has not reported leaving the
altitude.
A clearance limit to the airport implies "clear for the
approach at arrival" but if comm. has not been lost, you
should get a specific clearance. If cleared to a fix, you
can expect to make an approach at ETA or EAC as cleared.
Unless cleared for a particular approach, the pilot may
select any published approach or even a contact approach,
but it is recommended the pilot advise ATC of which approach
will be flown.
It is important at non-towered airports for the PIC under
IFR to cancel IFR when on the ground or in good VFR, when
landing is assured so the next aircraft can be cleared for
take-off or landing. Most airports with IFR approaches will
have some freq. that can reach ATC while on the ground, but
you can have another airplane relay.
The goal is to not hit other airplanes or the terrain, in
general all ATC cares about is other airplanes.




"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in
message
.net...
|
| "Jim Macklin" wrote
in message
| news:JHxef.3469$QW2.1475@dukeread08...
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| 8,000 hours experience
|
|
| A misconception heavily reinforced.
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|