Help with IFR clearance, KSNA - KMYF

[Jayrock]

I was hoping someone could help me understand the following IFR clearance. It seems pretty straight forward, but the problem I have is with the part that says MZB direct. From what I can tell, MZB is not an IAF. My question is, how is this flight to be flown in the event of lost communication?

KSNA - KMYF
...cleared to Montgomery Field, after departure turn left heading 175, vectors to victor 23, MZB direct.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ralgha]

Technically you're supposed to overfly MYF (your clearance limit), then proceed to an IAF at the appropriate time and fly an approach. In reality, unless you have a GPS, this probably isn't feasable, so I would go from MZB to an IAF via the shortest route possible and fly the approach.

 

[BrettInLJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Technically you're supposed to overfly MYF (your clearance limit), then proceed to an IAF at the appropriate time and fly an approach. In reality, unless you have a GPS, this probably isn't feasable, so I would go from MZB to an IAF via the shortest route possible and fly the approach.

[/ QUOTE ]

For this discussion, I am assuming IMC for the entire flight. Now I'm also assuming the ILS 28R approach, so the IAF would be BARET. If you are going by the book, you would proceed from MZB VOR to MYF (the clearance limit), then to BARET. Correct me if I am wrong, but this should be done via airways above the applicable altitude minimums. I am rusty in my IFR procedures, but going by the book, you would have to fly airways to BARET, then to a procedure turn at BARET to do a 180 degree turn around and start the approach. Someone please chime in and confirm or deny.

From the AIM:

"If the clearance limit is not a fix from which an approach begins, leave the clearance limit at the expect further clearance time if one has been received, or if none has been received, upon arrival over the clearance limit, and proceed to a fix from which an approach begins and commence descent or descent and approach as close as possible to the estimated time of arrival as calculated from the filed or amended (with ATC) estimated time en route."

 

[TallBoy85]

Whoa whoa back up the clearance train here a sec. the MZB direct statement implies simply that after the MZB VOR, you are to go to the airport. If you're lost com in this case, how you do that, and how you do it in most radar intensive airspace is your own business. This is the explanation I was given by an FSS briefer, who also indicated that no one would be too happy about a NORDO airplane wandering into such busy airspace. He recommended a diversion to an airport other than a busy SoCal airport. So what does your clearance really mean? That you'll be vectored onto an airway, and if you get to MZB, turn straight at the Montgomery airport and by the time you get there, they'll have come up with some fancy plan for you. If not...inquire and make sure they didn't forget about you.

 

[Cheechako]

[ QUOTE ]
If you're lost com in this case, how you do that, and how you do it in most radar intensive airspace is your own business. This is the explanation I was given by an FSS briefer, who also indicated that no one would be too happy about a NORDO airplane wandering into such busy airspace. He recommended a diversion to an airport other than a busy SoCal airport.

[/ QUOTE ]

I beg to differ. The FAA doesn't care about what a FSS briefer or ATC controller thinks about being in busy airspace. If NORDO, go VFR if you can. If not, go to the clearance limit you are filed to. From which you should be able to get to a published IAF at your filed destination. Not having the charts in front of me, I'm not sure where that is in this instance. I would not start making my own routes to an airport that is not in my flight plan, busy airspace or not! The controllers at least know where you are headed and will clear the airspace for you. If you trek off somewhere on your own, they have no idea where you are going. In todays aviation enviornment, they may think you're off to run into some building somewhere and scramble the fighters!