Lancair Legacy
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Total 2500; Flight Crew Type 700
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Company Policy; Chart Or Publication; Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
SoCal approach is using outdated arrival procedures that are only obscurely published; failing to take advantage of modern equipment and databases; and thereby imposing unnecessary workload (and therefore hazard) on arriving aircrew. Furthermore; they are unable or unwilling to tell a pilot as little as 10 minutes before joining an instrument approach which approach will be used. Conversations with other pilots and personal experience from 10 years prior indicate that this is standard procedure for SoCal and has been brought to their attention previously.The arrival procedures in question turn out to be Tower Enroute Control clearances; which are verbally dictated to the aircrew and sometimes changed midway through the arrival (although a STAR exists). The report also documents SoCal's clearance for a 110-degree turn onto final contrary to guidance in FAAH 7110.65 and without any prior warning to the pilot resulting in a serious overshoot of the final approach course.
Reporter explained details of the event.
Lancair pilot reported receiving an IFR clearance via VORs and airways when they were prepared to fly the published STAR. They were issued a VOR Approach which required a steep turn to the IAF which the pilot felt was in violation of ATC procedures.