Two Q's: Cruise Clearance, Searchable AIM

On 5/31/04 12:48 PM, Richard Kaplan wrote the following:

"Geo. Anderson" wrote in message
...


Checkride in about three weeks & I am trying to figure out cruise
clearance. Simple enough, cleared between the MEA and the altitude



It is described well enough in the Pilot/Controller Glossary in the AIM:

snip

Thanks. Yes, I did find those paragraphs as I continued to hunt after
posting the question.

But how does the controller give you one of the landing-type clearance
variations? For an IFR approach, "Cruise 6000, descend and execute
approach at pilot's discretion" or something like that? How about
non-IFR airports, since you apparently must be VFR below the MEA?

I have never been given (or for that matter, asked for) this type of a
clearance. It's pure book theory for me.

Geo.

"Geo. Anderson" wrote in message
...

But how does the controller give you one of the landing-type clearance
variations? For an IFR approach, "Cruise 6000, descend and execute
approach at pilot's discretion" or something like that? How about
non-IFR airports, since you apparently must be VFR below the MEA?

Suppose KABC is a VFR-only airport. If you have filed IFR with KABC as your
clearance limit and you are given the clearance "Cruise 6000" then that
includes approval for you to execute a visual approach to KABC. When you
arrive at KABC you may descend as low as the minimum IFR altitude. If and
only if you then find yourself in VFR conditions, then you may execute a
visual approach; if you are not in VFR conditions, then you may climb back
up again and ask ATC for a new clearance.

--------------------
Richard Kaplan, CFII

www.flyimc.com

"Geo. Anderson" wrote in message
...

But how does the controller give you one of the landing-type clearance
variations? For an IFR approach, "Cruise 6000, descend and execute
approach at pilot's discretion" or something like that? How about
non-IFR airports, since you apparently must be VFR below the MEA?

A cruise clearance is an approach clearance. You get to pick the approach.



I have never been given (or for that matter, asked for) this type of a
clearance. It's pure book theory for me.

And unless you fly to the boonies it always will be too. You will almost
never see it east of the Mississippi.