Baron 58/58TC
Air Traffic Control Developmental
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I was fairly busy with aircraft doing several different approaches; as is common here. A BE58 was at 5;000 MSL and within 30 NM of TATME which put him in the Terminal Arrival Area (TAA) of the RNAV Runway 36 Approach at ALX. He had passed conflicting traffic; so I advised him; 'Proceed Direct TATME; Cleared RNAV Runway 36 Approach'. He stated; 'Roger; and I'm ready for lower when able'. I stated; 'Roger; you are cleared for the approach.' I then proceeded to deal with other aircraft that required sequencing to the primary airport and vectors to final at other airports. I noticed that the BE58 did not descend; but upon reaching TATME; he made a course reversal and descended in the holding pattern. No other aircraft conflicted with him in the turn; but that possibility certainly existed since he made an unexpected 180 degree turn. He called later on the phone to get his next IFR clearance and indicated that he did not understand that he could descend with an approach clearance in the TAA. Pilot training is necessary. RNAV approaches with TAA's have been around for years. I thought that this was an experienced pilot. But he indicated that he did not know how to fly this charted approach. I also frequently have pilots that specifically request inappropriate entries (in the straight-in area; but request to go to a T-Fix and make two 90 degree turns). If I had not been dealing with multiple other pilots; I might have had the opportunity to discuss with him on frequency why he wasn't descending; but this is something that he should know.
MGM Controller described a pilots confusion regarding an RNAV clearance; TAA Airspace and the associated restrictions on descents; the reporter noting that more pilot training is necessary to familiarize flight crews with these types of procedures.