Medium Large Transport
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication; Airspace Structure; Procedure
On descent; we asked for the Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approach 28R via EKEME transition. The controller stated 'standby'; and after a few moments stated 'cleared for the RNP Z 28R'. We repeated the clearance; and turned towards EKEME; set the correct altitude in the alerter and VNAV solution. As we approached EKEME; the controller asked if we were on the approach. We replied in the affirmative; adding that we were direct EKEME as cleared. The controller turned us onto a new vector and assigned a new altitude; stating he thought we were going to follow the north transition. There were no issues complying with the new clearance; and we landed safely following vectors to the Visual Approach.The source of the confusion is the approach plate - the RNP Z to 28R does not have any northern transitions - they are all south of the airport. The correct approach from the north is the RNP X to 28R - which has been NOTAM'd out of service for the last few months. Our request very clearly specified the RNP Z 28R approach via EKEME transition- which is the closest Initial Approach Fix (IAF) from our direction of flight. I don't know what approach plate the controller had; but ours clearly showed no northern transitions to the approach. Since our request included the EKEME transition; our expectation when we received the 'Cleared for approach' call was to go direct EKEME. Contributing to the situation is that the correct approach for the direction of flight inbound is the RNP X to 28R that has been NOTAM'd out of service for a very long time; thus requiring non-normal requests and operations. Additional issue - the original approach contained a northern transition - but the approach was later split into the RNP X northern approach - which has been NOTAM'd for some time. I don't know what version approach plate the controllers have.
An air carrier pilot reported confusion with ATC in regard to the approach transition issued.