Visual approach clearance interpretation by the reporter.

Attributes
ACN	149094
Time
Date	199006
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : csg
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2400 msl bound upper : 2400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : csg tower : csg
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 2
ASRS Report	149094
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was working as the radar associate position assisting the west radar controller at csg approach. The aircraft was on vectors for a visibility approach and was about 8 mi north of the airport. Aircraft Y was on final for runway 5 and the small aircraft X did not have him in sight. The radar controller said, 'light transport Y cleared for visibility approach to runway 5, except fly heading 180.' he then told the local controller to advise the aircraft when he could turn final and switched the aircraft to the tower. Although not clearly prohibited in the 7110.65F, it does seem appropriate to clear an aircraft for a visibility approach and then assign a heading. (I once had a supervisor give me 1 which he told me was cleared for the visibility approach, told to fly heading 330 degrees and maintain 3000' until advised.) the 7110.65F should be clarified on this point. What restrictions are allowed and which are prohibited after the aircraft is cleared for a visibility approach?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VISUAL APCH CLRNC INTERP BY THE REPORTER.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING AS THE RADAR ASSOCIATE POS ASSISTING THE W RADAR CTLR AT CSG APCH. THE ACFT WAS ON VECTORS FOR A VIS APCH AND WAS ABOUT 8 MI N OF THE ARPT. ACFT Y WAS ON FINAL FOR RWY 5 AND THE SMA X DID NOT HAVE HIM IN SIGHT. THE RADAR CTLR SAID, 'LTT Y CLRED FOR VIS APCH TO RWY 5, EXCEPT FLY HDG 180.' HE THEN TOLD THE LCL CTLR TO ADVISE THE ACFT WHEN HE COULD TURN FINAL AND SWITCHED THE ACFT TO THE TWR. ALTHOUGH NOT CLEARLY PROHIBITED IN THE 7110.65F, IT DOES SEEM APPROPRIATE TO CLR AN ACFT FOR A VIS APCH AND THEN ASSIGN A HDG. (I ONCE HAD A SUPVR GIVE ME 1 WHICH HE TOLD ME WAS CLRED FOR THE VIS APCH, TOLD TO FLY HDG 330 DEGS AND MAINTAIN 3000' UNTIL ADVISED.) THE 7110.65F SHOULD BE CLARIFIED ON THIS POINT. WHAT RESTRICTIONS ARE ALLOWED AND WHICH ARE PROHIBITED AFTER THE ACFT IS CLRED FOR A VIS APCH?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.