Narrative:

Flight was flying at 5000 ft on 040 degree vector, for ILS runway 29L (msp approach airspace) 2 NM southeast greys. The controller told us to turn left 310 degrees, maintain 5000 ft, until established on localizer 'cleared ILS runway 29L approach.' this caused us to overshoot localizer by 1.5 dots. Correcting back toward localizer, we intercepted the GS and started down. The controller called and said that we were to stay at 5000 ft until established. (We were at 4600 ft MSL on GS at the time.) I feel this was wrong as I felt we were established on localizer, and the overshoot was due to the sharp turn on (90 degree final heading change). What constitutes 'established on localizer' and 'cleared for the approach' legal altitude, over greys, is 4000 ft MSL. Approach controllers in msp consistently issue large heading changes to final in IMC conditions.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FLC FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE CLRNC ALT 'UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE LOC,' WHICH APCH CTL NOTED.

Narrative: FLT WAS FLYING AT 5000 FT ON 040 DEG VECTOR, FOR ILS RWY 29L (MSP APCH AIRSPACE) 2 NM SE GREYS. THE CTLR TOLD US TO TURN L 310 DEGS, MAINTAIN 5000 FT, UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON LOC 'CLRED ILS RWY 29L APCH.' THIS CAUSED US TO OVERSHOOT LOC BY 1.5 DOTS. CORRECTING BACK TOWARD LOC, WE INTERCEPTED THE GS AND STARTED DOWN. THE CTLR CALLED AND SAID THAT WE WERE TO STAY AT 5000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED. (WE WERE AT 4600 FT MSL ON GS AT THE TIME.) I FEEL THIS WAS WRONG AS I FELT WE WERE ESTABLISHED ON LOC, AND THE OVERSHOOT WAS DUE TO THE SHARP TURN ON (90 DEG FINAL HDG CHANGE). WHAT CONSTITUTES 'ESTABLISHED ON LOC' AND 'CLRED FOR THE APCH' LEGAL ALT, OVER GREYS, IS 4000 FT MSL. APCH CTLRS IN MSP CONSISTENTLY ISSUE LARGE HDG CHANGES TO FINAL IN IMC CONDITIONS.

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.