Sidestep Runway what?

[Sergio Holzmann]

I am approaching airport. Control indicates to land on runway ZZ, no ILS.

But I want another ILS runway XX. Request approach to runway XX, with a XXX transition.

Control says: "You are cleared to RW XX (see!) with xxx transition, SIDESTEP RUNWAY ZZ!

I understand I should land on RW XX, the one I wanted. As I approach airport tower will tell me to land on the RW ZZ!

What a mess!

Hoh can I request a RW to land?

BPilot

 

[charliearon]

Why not land where they tell you to?  Avoid the mess!

[Damian Clark]

Sidestep off an ILS is pretty common, they do this to avail the ILS approach while using alternate or multiple runways accordingly.  Perhaps there was traffic or some other reason the other runway was preferable.  You should be able to request any runway you want, IRL, but not always granted.  Some common clearances:

"Fly heading WWW, maintain YYYY until established, Cleared ILS XX Approach, Sidestep Runway ZZ"

"Cleared direct WWWWW, cross at or above YYYY, Cleared RNAV XX Approach, circle to land runway ZZ"

Sometimes, in MVFR/ solid ceiling conditions where you are VMC on top, you might even want to fly an ILS into an airport/runway and cancel IFR once VFR under the clouds, and proceed to another airport nearby that doesn't have an approach, or an approach with high enough minimums.  Somewhat common in certain areas (I've witnessed other aircraft do this in Las Vegas area).