Widebody; Low Wing; 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Procedure
Our initial clearance had us arriving in Toluca at PTJ VOR for the approach and ILS to Runway 15. The sun was coming up behind us making the landscape visible. At about 30 miles from PTJ; we were told to go to Toluca Approach. We checked in at 15;000 MSL. MSA was 15;000 FT. After a short pause Approach Control told us to turn to a heading of 140. This took us off the arrival. I told the Controller that the heading he gave us put us directly on a collision course for the mountain. He insisted on the heading so I complied thinking there was a traffic conflict. We were about 20 miles from the mountain. At about 10 miles from the mountain he gave us another heading change to 135 heading. This put us smack in the middle of the mountain.At this point I told the Approach Controller negative; we were turning back to the right to PTJ to assume the approach and ILS for Runway 15. There was a pause and then the Controller said we were cleared as requested. After intercepting the localizer we were handed over to Tower and were cleared to land. Why were we taken off an approved arrival which has kept us out of harms way all these years? I have been flying down her for 5 years so I know the lay of the land. This is a very challenging airport and there is no room for error with the high terrain. We have to have safe and standard procedures to keep us safe.
[Narrative 2 contained no additional information.]
Air Carrier flight crew reported being vectored toward mountainous terrain on arrival to MMTO.