I just did a flight from VTBS to ZSAM in an Airbus A300.Cruising at FL350, the controller told me to descend to FL290. I asked for pilot's discretion, and he said no, so I started to descend. I wasn't getting any vectors, so I let the plan handle the LNAV and follow the flight plan.The controlers then gradually stepped me down in 5,000 foot increments. At about FL250, they did something I've never seen before- they asked me if I had obtained weather data yet. I said no, so then RC automatically gave me the ZSAM ATIS, the same way as if I had pressed the "leave frequency for weather" option.I kept descending, and slowed to 250 knots below 10000, and set my altimeter correctly to QNH 1009. But during this whole time, I never received any kind of crossing restriction or approach vectors. At 15 nm from the airport, the controller said "radar service terminated. Contact tower on....". I talked to the tower, they said roger, and then that was it. Following the last instruction, I flew at 4,000 feet, straight over the airport. I told the tower "missed approach" and they just said "understood" and I didn't hear anything else again.Why didn't I get any kind of approach vectors or crossing restrictions? In my flight plan, I used the VOR at ZSAM as my final waypoint before the airport, so maybe they thought I was doing a STAR? But that only happens when you request an IAP approach, right, and I didn't do that.

I just did a flight from VTBS to ZSAM in an Airbus A300.Cruising at FL350, the controller told me to descend to FL290. I asked for pilot's discretion, and he said no, so I started to descend. I wasn't getting any vectors, so I let the plan handle the LNAV and follow the flight plan.The controlers then gradually stepped me down in 5,000 foot increments. At about FL250, they did something I've never seen before- they asked me if I had obtained weather data yet. I said no, so then RC automatically gave me the ZSAM ATIS, the same way as if I had pressed the "leave frequency for weather" option.I kept descending, and slowed to 250 knots below 10000, and set my altimeter correctly to QNH 1009. But during this whole time, I never received any kind of crossing restriction or approach vectors. At 15 nm from the airport, the controller said "radar service terminated. Contact tower on....". I talked to the tower, they said roger, and then that was it. Following the last instruction, I flew at 4,000 feet, straight over the airport. I told the tower "missed approach" and they just said "understood" and I didn't hear anything else again.Why didn't I get any kind of approach vectors or crossing restrictions? In my flight plan, I used the VOR at ZSAM as my final waypoint before the airport, so maybe they thought I was doing a STAR? But that only happens when you request an IAP approach, right, and I didn't do that.

sounds like there is no approach controller there. in that case there is no crossing restriction. read the tutorial for arrivals into an airport without an approach controller. doug and i call the CTG (center-tower-ground). they are a different animal than the typical arrivalsjd

ok. So if I look at the flight setup settings, it will probably say that ZSAM doesn't have an approach control- and if I enable it I will get vectors?thanks for the reply.

ok. So if I look at the flight setup settings, it will probably say that ZSAM doesn't have an approach control- and if I enable it I will get vectors?thanks for the reply.

yes, that would be truejd

Also, as I recall in RC4, comm frequency changes via the RC interface are not sticky between sessions. You'll have to set it each time.

ok. So if I look at the flight setup settings, it will probably say that ZSAM doesn't have an approach control- and if I enable it I will get vectors?thanks for the reply.