I had a flight where my last waypoint before where my approach (IAF) starts was quite far away (the approach was already loaded in the GTN 750)

If I am not cleared for the approach when I get to my last waypoint, do I proceed directly to the airport or can I proceed to the IAF?

 

You mentioned real world in the title, so I will give you that. Normally you will either be cleared the full procedure through the IAF or FAF or you will be vectored for an intercept for that approach. For example, when I used to return to KADW from the the North. We would always be routed through BAL as the final flightplan point. Just prior to reaching BAL as the discontinuity messages pop up on my PFD, the controller would say, "SAM183, direct Andrews" and give us a freq change. After that, Potomac would vector us around unless we asked for a specific full approach. The basic TACAN or GPS with a turn in holding was a popular choice returning after a training flight. They would then clear us to GRAVZ and we commenced from there. You will either get a vector to an intercept or cleared to a point from where that approach will commence.  

Thanks G550, great information. 

In the above example, if you were not given a direct to Andrews and you were at your disco, would you just continue on your last heading until atc gave you additonal instructions?

 

 

 

7 minutes ago, lancealotg said:

In the above example, if you were not given a direct to Andrews and you were at your disco, would you just continue on your last heading until atc gave you additonal instructions?

Yes, I would also ping them at that point, let them know my current heading and ask for further instructions.

Thanks, I appreciate the help.

And in the case of how P2A works, you can ask for Vectors for the ILS (or whatever approach) and get the vector.

Or, you proceed to the airport, and sometime before reaching the airport you would be cleared for the approach, or if needed, would be given vectors.

Dave