Narrative:

I was giving a recurrent check ride to a captain. We were on the ILS 12 into hillsboro; or. We were 500 feet AGL; which is about 300 above minimums on the approach when the tower called us and said that they had alternate missed approach instructions and to advise ready to copy. I said that it was a really bad time; but go ahead; where she proceeded to give me the alternate missed approach instructions of 'fly runway heading till 1000 feet; then left turn 110 degrees to intercept the btg 175 degree radial to canby and hold at 4000'.' the only part of that alternate missed approach that is published on the approach plate is the hold at canby. The directions to get there are not. I don't know who instigated the change to alternate missed approach; but it was probably from portland approach. Either way; such instructions should be given before clearing someone for the approach; not 300 feet before the pilot is going to initiate the missed approach. Single pilot; there would be no way to fly the approach and figure out what they were supposed to do. As it was; the pilot almost failed the approach because he was concentrating on trying to figure out what he was supposed to do on the missed at a very critical point of the approach. This has happened on multiple occasions at this airport; usually when we are within about 1000 feet of minimums. It can't be that much harder for them to have the entire alternate missed approach published somewhere on the chart and to warn us before clearing us for the approach that there will be different missed approach instructions. If I was single pilot flying that approach for real in nasty weather; I would have to tell them I was unable to comply because it isn't feasible to copy and understand that at the same time as flying the approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Instructor pilot described ATC event when alternate missed approach instructions were given when the aircraft was within 300 feet of the MAP during an ILS Runway 12 at HIO.

Narrative: I was giving a recurrent check ride to a Captain. We were on the ILS 12 into Hillsboro; OR. We were 500 feet AGL; which is about 300 above minimums on the approach when the Tower called us and said that they had alternate missed approach instructions and to advise ready to copy. I said that it was a really bad time; but go ahead; where she proceeded to give me the alternate missed approach instructions of 'fly runway heading till 1000 feet; then left turn 110 degrees to intercept the BTG 175 degree radial to CANBY and hold at 4000'.' The only part of that alternate missed approach that is published on the approach plate is the hold at CANBY. The directions to get there are NOT. I don't know who instigated the change to alternate missed approach; but it was probably from Portland Approach. Either way; such instructions should be given before clearing someone for the approach; not 300 feet before the pilot is going to initiate the missed approach. Single pilot; there would be no way to fly the approach and figure out what they were supposed to do. As it was; the pilot almost failed the approach because he was concentrating on trying to figure out what he was supposed to do on the missed at a very critical point of the approach. This has happened on multiple occasions at this airport; usually when we are within about 1000 feet of minimums. It can't be that much harder for them to have the entire alternate missed approach published somewhere on the chart and to warn us before clearing us for the approach that there will be different missed approach instructions. If I was single pilot flying that approach for real in nasty weather; I would have to tell them I was unable to comply because it isn't feasible to copy and understand that at the same time as flying the approach.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.