vector and IAP

Most of the time you do get vectors to the final approach course. This requires radar service down to the initial altitude for the approach. That's not a problem at large to medium airports but isn't always available at small uncontrolled airports away from the radar approach control radar sites. In these locations, you would have to fly the complete IAP procedure on your own because ATC can't see your aircraft. This is taught to all new instrument pilots and it is more challenging than just following radar vectors. In an emergency, you could also have to complete the full approach because of loss of communication with ATC. Some approaches, at large airports, are not setup to guide you to intercept the approach manually but the facility is so large that radar service is available 24 hours, at all necessary altitudes. In event of loss of communication, they will watch the effected aircraft and get everyone else out of the way as the pilot does whatever is necessary to become established onto any approach available. Flying the full approach requires having an approach cart and requires more skill and is more fun than radar vectors.

so when you file flight plan, do you have to make sure the destination airport offers vector? can you always assume B class and C class has vector service?

nottobe wrote:

so when you file flight plan, do you have to make sure the destination airport offers vector? can you always assume B class and C class has vector service?

No you don't, radar vector are a help but you don't need them. Yes, radar vectors will always be available within class B and C airspace. It comes down to if the area around the airport has radar service. If the airport has an approach radar control service, you will be given radar vectors unless you request to do the full approach on your own. If it doesn't have radar service(small uncontrolled airport away from cities) or if the radar service they do have can't see you at the initial altitude of the approach, no radar vectors. It's not something you really worry about or have to plan for. All pilots need to be able to fly an approach without radar vectors, if you get them or can request them- great. If not, fly the way that you've been trained. You can use publications to determine if the airport has radar service but you can't tell the extent of the radar coverage. If it's an airport with a instrument approach, it probably has radar coverage down to at least 3000 feet AGL, it depends on how far away the radar antenna is from the airport. Initial altitude for the approach may be 2000 feet AGL.