Narrative:

We were holding, waiting to get into aspen, but after some time, we were told that no one was getting in at aspen. We then asked if rifle was open and if we could get in there. We were told yes, and told to expect the ILS runway 26 at ril. Next, we were given vectors towards ril. A short time later, we were handed off at ril. This controller told us to head toward novjo intersection and that we may have to do a '360 degree turn', not a hold. As we arrived at novjo, the controller told us just to do a 360 degree turn or two, which we did. A few mins went by and he just told us to do a few more 360 degree turns. After 15 mins or so, he told us 'cleared for the approach.' we were told and were set up for the ILS and as we headed for the localizer, he (the controller) asked where we were going. He wanted us to do a VOR approach, but never told us. He then cleared us for the ILS, and said 'so long.' this does not appear to be the proper way to work traffic in the rockies -- especially if we lost communications with ATC. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter was concerned that he waited too long to question ATC's clearance and vagueness. Reporter questioned why the controller continued delay, and was advised that the previous aircraft on approach to ril had not provided 'landing assured/canceled IFR,' and that if he wanted to expedite his landing sequence, he should call the FBO to obtain the 'landing assured,' which he did. Reporter advised that he would react differently today by questioning ATC to verify proper holding instructions and approach clrncs.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C550 FLC ACCEPT QUESTIONABLE ZDV DELAY AND APCH CLRNCS ENRTE TO RIL ARPT.

Narrative: WE WERE HOLDING, WAITING TO GET INTO ASPEN, BUT AFTER SOME TIME, WE WERE TOLD THAT NO ONE WAS GETTING IN AT ASPEN. WE THEN ASKED IF RIFLE WAS OPEN AND IF WE COULD GET IN THERE. WE WERE TOLD YES, AND TOLD TO EXPECT THE ILS RWY 26 AT RIL. NEXT, WE WERE GIVEN VECTORS TOWARDS RIL. A SHORT TIME LATER, WE WERE HANDED OFF AT RIL. THIS CTLR TOLD US TO HEAD TOWARD NOVJO INTXN AND THAT WE MAY HAVE TO DO A '360 DEG TURN', NOT A HOLD. AS WE ARRIVED AT NOVJO, THE CTLR TOLD US JUST TO DO A 360 DEG TURN OR TWO, WHICH WE DID. A FEW MINS WENT BY AND HE JUST TOLD US TO DO A FEW MORE 360 DEG TURNS. AFTER 15 MINS OR SO, HE TOLD US 'CLRED FOR THE APCH.' WE WERE TOLD AND WERE SET UP FOR THE ILS AND AS WE HEADED FOR THE LOC, HE (THE CTLR) ASKED WHERE WE WERE GOING. HE WANTED US TO DO A VOR APCH, BUT NEVER TOLD US. HE THEN CLRED US FOR THE ILS, AND SAID 'SO LONG.' THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE PROPER WAY TO WORK TFC IN THE ROCKIES -- ESPECIALLY IF WE LOST COMS WITH ATC. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR WAS CONCERNED THAT HE WAITED TOO LONG TO QUESTION ATC'S CLRNC AND VAGUENESS. RPTR QUESTIONED WHY THE CTLR CONTINUED DELAY, AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE PREVIOUS ACFT ON APCH TO RIL HAD NOT PROVIDED 'LNDG ASSURED/CANCELED IFR,' AND THAT IF HE WANTED TO EXPEDITE HIS LNDG SEQUENCE, HE SHOULD CALL THE FBO TO OBTAIN THE 'LNDG ASSURED,' WHICH HE DID. RPTR ADVISED THAT HE WOULD REACT DIFFERENTLY TODAY BY QUESTIONING ATC TO VERIFY PROPER HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS AND APCH CLRNCS.

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.