A C172 was cleared for an ILS with the words, 'look for the ILS.' since the clearance was unclr, the instructor and student did not intercept the approach and the controller queried.

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Attributes
ACN	327070
Time
Date	199602
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mxe airport : rdg
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rdg
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 152 flight time total : 1180 flight time type : 406
ASRS Report	327070
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While flying my assigned IFR route I heard from ATC, 'look for the ILS.' I responded 'roger.' about 3 mins later ATC queried me about the fact I had not started my descent for the approach. I responded by telling ATC I had not yet received a clearance for the approach. He said I was 'cleared' earlier and I should start my descent. I was in radar contact and never vacated my altitude after our miscom, so I do not think a conflict ever existed. However in a busy situation, or non radar environment a similar scenario could be dangerous. It seems clear that unless pilots and controllers avoid slang terms some confusion from slang is bound to exist.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 WAS CLRED FOR AN ILS WITH THE WORDS, 'LOOK FOR THE ILS.' SINCE THE CLRNC WAS UNCLR, THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT DID NOT INTERCEPT THE APCH AND THE CTLR QUERIED.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING MY ASSIGNED IFR ROUTE I HEARD FROM ATC, 'LOOK FOR THE ILS.' I RESPONDED 'ROGER.' ABOUT 3 MINS LATER ATC QUERIED ME ABOUT THE FACT I HAD NOT STARTED MY DSCNT FOR THE APCH. I RESPONDED BY TELLING ATC I HAD NOT YET RECEIVED A CLRNC FOR THE APCH. HE SAID I WAS 'CLRED' EARLIER AND I SHOULD START MY DSCNT. I WAS IN RADAR CONTACT AND NEVER VACATED MY ALT AFTER OUR MISCOM, SO I DO NOT THINK A CONFLICT EVER EXISTED. HOWEVER IN A BUSY SIT, OR NON RADAR ENVIRONMENT A SIMILAR SCENARIO COULD BE DANGEROUS. IT SEEMS CLR THAT UNLESS PLTS AND CTLRS AVOID SLANG TERMS SOME CONFUSION FROM SLANG IS BOUND TO EXIST.

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.