schmookeeg
En-Route
I had a situation come up on a flight into St. Louis yesterday.. and I realized I don't have a standard prompt-to-action, and would like one. Let me try to paint the scenario:
Filed: KOFK to KSUS via OVR V181 IRK FTZ
![1702924860451.png 1702924860451.png](https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/data/attachments/115/115593-f12ba342c687c0641d36ad8baa31975b.jpg)
The important bits are really near the end. FTZ is the IAF for numerous approaches into SUS, hence why I filed to there. I was given a shortcut "Cleared direct Spirit of St Louis (KSUS)" which allowed me to cut the corner. But the corner being cut was my IAF to the procedures at SUS.
. I was IMC. I don't fly this airspace often, so I assumed this was some quirk of STL Bravo and "just how they do things".
![1702925284508.png 1702925284508.png](https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/data/attachments/115/115594-2dc831d1e93c3f03ddbaf343df0fb305.jpg)
Approach kept me on that clearance to darn near the clearance limit. I was politely waiting for my next vectors/instructions, but the controller got busy. I prefer to be proactive on this stuff, so it created some anxiety. I finally got in to query him, and asked "should I expect vectors for the approach after KSUS?" and was given "maintain present heading, expect vectors for ILS...." so all was fine and no foul anywhere -- with 2nm to spare. He did seem annoyed that I even asked, but maybe he was annoyed I did not ask sooner, since this was a somewhat bogus clearance setup?
I think my querying him 5nm from my clearance limit was too late. I also think he would have been very annoyed if I began a random hold over the airport, or rolled my own approach vector from there.
Do any of you IFR flyers have a "I will query at or before X" when approaching a clearance limit? 10nm? 15nm? More? Do you have a particular way you like to ask so you seem like a team player and not a Karen barking after her overdue Latte?![Big Grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
I haven't run into this scenario before. In retrospect, I might have refused the shortcut since a fix directly over the airport in IMC is pretty useless to me in the end.
I appreciate any thoughts or techniques to add to the toolbag. Always learning in this game.
- Mike
Filed: KOFK to KSUS via OVR V181 IRK FTZ
![1702924860451.png 1702924860451.png](https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/data/attachments/115/115593-f12ba342c687c0641d36ad8baa31975b.jpg)
The important bits are really near the end. FTZ is the IAF for numerous approaches into SUS, hence why I filed to there. I was given a shortcut "Cleared direct Spirit of St Louis (KSUS)" which allowed me to cut the corner. But the corner being cut was my IAF to the procedures at SUS.
![1702925284508.png 1702925284508.png](https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/data/attachments/115/115594-2dc831d1e93c3f03ddbaf343df0fb305.jpg)
Approach kept me on that clearance to darn near the clearance limit. I was politely waiting for my next vectors/instructions, but the controller got busy. I prefer to be proactive on this stuff, so it created some anxiety. I finally got in to query him, and asked "should I expect vectors for the approach after KSUS?" and was given "maintain present heading, expect vectors for ILS...." so all was fine and no foul anywhere -- with 2nm to spare. He did seem annoyed that I even asked, but maybe he was annoyed I did not ask sooner, since this was a somewhat bogus clearance setup?
I think my querying him 5nm from my clearance limit was too late. I also think he would have been very annoyed if I began a random hold over the airport, or rolled my own approach vector from there.
Do any of you IFR flyers have a "I will query at or before X" when approaching a clearance limit? 10nm? 15nm? More? Do you have a particular way you like to ask so you seem like a team player and not a Karen barking after her overdue Latte?
I haven't run into this scenario before. In retrospect, I might have refused the shortcut since a fix directly over the airport in IMC is pretty useless to me in the end.
I appreciate any thoughts or techniques to add to the toolbag. Always learning in this game.
- Mike