On a recent IFR flight I was cleared for 2 approaches at two different airports that I wasn't fully expecting and it got me to wonder how approach control decides what to give the pilot. Here are the two scenarios:
1. Flying into KLIT in the dark in a rainstorm I was cleared for the ILS, but I had already setup for RNAV 4L, and with the dark and the stormy weather it would have been unsafe to fumble around setting up for the ILS at that point, but controller didn't even miss a beat when I told them I was setup for RNAV and just cleared me for the RNAV instead. My guess is that I was given ILS because it had the lowest minimums? Or at international airports approach is used to giving "Cleared ILS"?
2. On a flight into an uncontrolled airport near New Orleans on my initial call to approach I specifically asked for RNAV, but controller cleared me for visual. There were no other aircraft IFR or VFR at the airport, only 1 VFR aircraft landed the whole time I was in the vicinity and that occurred about 10-15 minutes after I landed. I totally understand that ATC and give me visual approach, and that normally, it saves me time (and money) on my aircraft rental, but I'm just wondering what is reason from ATC perspective to give me a visual approach when I specifically asked for RNAV to a field with no other IFR traffic? Is it possible the controller forgot my request because I included it in the initial call up? Which was something like "approach, cessna 1234, level 8000, w/ airport automated weather, request RNAV 18, circling, full stop" is that too much for initial call to approach?
BTW: I got some amazing A+ service for ATC (Houston, Memphis, KLIT, NOLA) this weekend, thanks y'all!
1. Flying into KLIT in the dark in a rainstorm I was cleared for the ILS, but I had already setup for RNAV 4L, and with the dark and the stormy weather it would have been unsafe to fumble around setting up for the ILS at that point, but controller didn't even miss a beat when I told them I was setup for RNAV and just cleared me for the RNAV instead. My guess is that I was given ILS because it had the lowest minimums? Or at international airports approach is used to giving "Cleared ILS"?
2. On a flight into an uncontrolled airport near New Orleans on my initial call to approach I specifically asked for RNAV, but controller cleared me for visual. There were no other aircraft IFR or VFR at the airport, only 1 VFR aircraft landed the whole time I was in the vicinity and that occurred about 10-15 minutes after I landed. I totally understand that ATC and give me visual approach, and that normally, it saves me time (and money) on my aircraft rental, but I'm just wondering what is reason from ATC perspective to give me a visual approach when I specifically asked for RNAV to a field with no other IFR traffic? Is it possible the controller forgot my request because I included it in the initial call up? Which was something like "approach, cessna 1234, level 8000, w/ airport automated weather, request RNAV 18, circling, full stop" is that too much for initial call to approach?
BTW: I got some amazing A+ service for ATC (Houston, Memphis, KLIT, NOLA) this weekend, thanks y'all!