B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Type 444
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
RPLL approach vectors and approach clearance Once again RPLL approach control vectored us to an intercept heading on the LOC 6 at 3500. We then received approach clearance. The aircraft at the time was outside of 15D from IML (4 miles outside the IAF TARA). The minimum altitude at TARA is 2500. When given this approach; and also vectors for ILS/LOC 24 outside ZULU; the last assigned altitude can NOT be left until established on an inbound segment of the approach. In other words can NOT descend from last assigned altitude to prior to the IAF. This causes the aircraft to be high on the approach due to the short distance between the IAF and the glideslope intercept altitudes (ILS 24 ZULU crossing a 3500 is well above the glideslope). On ILS 24 the only way to be close to the glideslope capture altitude is to be high drag and depart 3500 0.3 nm prior to ZULU. Even so without glideslope capture prior to 7.5D reverting to LOC minima can be required until glideslope capture inside of 7.5D.A fair number of crews have been advocating departing last assigned altitude with glideslope capture outside the IAFs. Which is expressly prohibited in the Flight Operations Manual. The lack of awareness of RPLL approach on clearances and the lack of understanding by the flight crews on proper approach procedures is alarming. And is a high risk situation especially when weather or darkness is encountered during the approach.
B737 Captain reported that RPLL procedures into Runway 24 pose a challenge to SOP stabilized approach procedure.