Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 5300; Flight Crew Type 2000
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors
We were expecting vectors for the RNAV RWY 17 approach into Asheville. We were cleared to ONZIQ; told to cross at 6000; cleared for the approach; and told to report inbound.  We turned inbound over ONZIQ and began our descent. After descending and flying final for a few miles; Approach called and asked us to climb to 8000; which we did.  After some vectors and clearing us for the full RNAV 17 approach; they asked us to call their phone number after landing. I called; and the supervisor told me that we should have flown the full approach instead of flying it as vectors.  I explained that we didn't recall any phraseology that indicated a full approach; and we were simply told to report inbound. He admitted that they probably should have worded it properly like 'cleared full approach' and 'report procedure turn inbound.' He also admitted that since they rarely do full approaches into Asheville; and that the radar issues they were having had them off guard; so to speak. This was indeed my observation; because there were a lot of non-standard ATC phraseology and procedures used today in Asheville by approach control and tower/ground.
Air taxi pilot reported not flying the full approach into AVL as ATC intended due to a poorly worded clearance.