Narrative:

On apr/fri/97, on a flight between bos-pop while tuned to puerta plata approach control we were just passing the 12 DME on the inbound radial upon being told '12 mi cleared VOR runway 26 approach descend to 3000 ft.' the first officer read back 'cleared VOR runway 26 descend to 3000 ft,' which approach rogered. I then briefed the VOR runway 26 approach. At approximately 6 DME pop inquired as to our DME, which we replied. Pop said that we were cleared for the 12 mi arc VOR runway 26 approach. We informed him that we never heard arc or DME approach and would execute the VOR runway 26 approach due to our proximity. The approach was then uneventful. It has been my experience that when you are to fly an arc approach you are given clearance at least 2 mi prior to the arc to commence your turn. Communication is the culprit here. Precise terminology should be used and the approach should be renamed '12 DME arc runway 26 approach.'

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LGT ACR WAS JUST PASSING THE 12 DME INBOUND TO RWY 26 AT POP WHEN THE APCH CTLR CLRED THE FLC FOR A 12 NM DME ARC APCH TO RWY 26 INSTEAD OF THE STRAIGHT-IN APCH THAT THE FLC HAD PLANNED. THE FLC WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE STRAIGHT-IN APCH SUCCESSFULLY.

Narrative: ON APR/FRI/97, ON A FLT BTWN BOS-POP WHILE TUNED TO PUERTA PLATA APCH CTL WE WERE JUST PASSING THE 12 DME ON THE INBOUND RADIAL UPON BEING TOLD '12 MI CLRED VOR RWY 26 APCH DSND TO 3000 FT.' THE FO READ BACK 'CLRED VOR RWY 26 DSND TO 3000 FT,' WHICH APCH ROGERED. I THEN BRIEFED THE VOR RWY 26 APCH. AT APPROX 6 DME POP INQUIRED AS TO OUR DME, WHICH WE REPLIED. POP SAID THAT WE WERE CLRED FOR THE 12 MI ARC VOR RWY 26 APCH. WE INFORMED HIM THAT WE NEVER HEARD ARC OR DME APCH AND WOULD EXECUTE THE VOR RWY 26 APCH DUE TO OUR PROX. THE APCH WAS THEN UNEVENTFUL. IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN YOU ARE TO FLY AN ARC APCH YOU ARE GIVEN CLRNC AT LEAST 2 MI PRIOR TO THE ARC TO COMMENCE YOUR TURN. COM IS THE CULPRIT HERE. PRECISE TERMINOLOGY SHOULD BE USED AND THE APCH SHOULD BE RENAMED '12 DME ARC RWY 26 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.