VOR Approaches

SNFO/SWSO VOICE COMMUNICATIONS

CHAPTER THREE

1. The communications sequence begins with hand off from Center to Approach Control.

Initial contact with approach consists of:

Agency, call sign, altitude, ATIS information (if known), type of approach requested.

Example (See Figure 3-9):

SNFO/SWSO:

"Mobile Approach, KATT 814, 6000, information

ECHO, request VOR-A at Mobile Regional, full

stop."

NOTE

Because there is more than one airport in the Mobile area that has

VOR approaches (Mobile Downtown and Mobile Regional), you

should specify the airport in the initial call.

3. Let's analyze this call. The agency is included in all calls. We specified a VOR approach.

The landing intention requested was for a full stop. Notice we did not specify a particular

runway. Approach will give us clearance for a specific approach and to proceed to the IAF

descending and vectoring us as necessary.

Refer to Figure 3-9, MOBILE REGIONAL VOR-A. Notice there are multiple IAFs for the

VOR-A approach. If the approach uses DME to define the approach, then the comms are

identical to the comms in a TACAN approach.

When DME is not available at a VOR or is not part of the designated approach, comms vary

slightly:

VOR Outbound.

IF NO DESCENT IS REQUIRED between crossing the VOR outbound and the

procedure turn, call the VOR outbound:

Example

SNFO/SWSO:

"Mobile Approach, KATT 820, SJI outbound."

IFR COMMUNICATIONS

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