Terminology Ques: 5 mile turn vs. delay vectors

"Brad" wrote in message
ups.com...

I'm a CFII, and I've never heard it phrased that way. Could be a
local thing. My request would sound something like: "Blahba Approach,
Skyhawk 123YZ requesting ILS 36 approach Hooterville; requesting
vectors for a 5 mile intercept prior to FAF (the name of the Final
Approach fix)"


Too much talking. I'd drop "prior to FAF (the name of the Final Approach
fix)" as the intercept should never be inside the FAF anyway.

"Brad" wrote in message
ups.com...
On May 12, 5:29 pm, "Gerald S." wrote:
The other day I was doing multiple approaches under the hood. I needed
an extra minute or two to setup for the next approach and requested a "5
mile turn." From my understanding, this means that while on downwind to
not turn me until 5 miles from the FAF. The controller didn't
understand. I thought maybe he didn't hear me clearly so I repeated a
"requesting a 5 mile turn." He said, "I don't know what that is." I
then said, "let me try this, how about delay vectors." That did the
trick. I thought a "X mile turn" is standard terminology. Is it not?

Gerald Sylvester

I'm a CFII, and I've never heard it phrased that way. Could be a
local thing. My request would sound something like: "Blahba Approach,
Skyhawk 123YZ requesting ILS 36 approach Hooterville; requesting
vectors for a 5 mile intercept prior to FAF (the name of the Final
Approach fix)"

When there's nothing in the Glossary stick actuators should stop trying to
sound "kewl" and just say what they want :-/

If you want a 10 mile final ask for a 10 mile final. It might end up being
a 15 or 20 mile final due to traffic but that's life.

If you want an extended downwind to do set-up ask for an extended downwind
to do set-up. You might get a "Let me know when you're ready" instead.

If you want an intercept right at the FAF to practice an emergency approach
ask for an intercept at the FAF for a practice emergency approach. You'll
probably get a "Maintain VFR" but you were going to do that anyway.

If you can't articulate what you want in brief standard English you probably
shouldn't be flying it in the first place :-/

On May 12, 2:29 pm, "Gerald S." wrote:
The other day I was doing multiple approaches under the hood. I needed
an extra minute or two to setup for the next approach and requested a "5
mile turn." From my understanding, this means that while on downwind to
not turn me until 5 miles from the FAF. The controller didn't
understand. I thought maybe he didn't hear me clearly so I repeated a
"requesting a 5 mile turn." He said, "I don't know what that is." I
then said, "let me try this, how about delay vectors." That did the
trick. I thought a "X mile turn" is standard terminology. Is it not?

Gerald Sylvester

I would focus less on trying to figure out the terminology and more on
just asking for what you want. Tell him you need a few minutes.

-Robert, CFII