If you are using a feeder route to the IAF and cleared for the approach, you are considered ______ on the approach and you can ______ to the altitude depicted on the feeder route.

If you are using a feeder route to the IAF and cleared for the approach, you are considered ______ on the approach and you can ______ to the altitude depicted on the feeder route.

• A. Established, descend
• B. Established, maintain
• C. Not established, descend
• D. Established, level off

Answer: (A)

On a feeder route to the IAF, once you’ve been cleared for the approach, you’re considered established on the approach. That established status lets you descend to the altitude shown along the feeder route because you’re aligned with the published approach path and the altitude constraints along that segment are protected. So you can descend to the depicted altitude as you progress toward the final approach. If you’re not established, you wouldn’t descend yet and would need to maintain altitude or level off until you become established. The option to maintain or level off doesn’t fit the scenario when you’re already cleared for the approach and on a feeder route.

On a feeder route to the IAF, once you’ve been cleared for the approach, you’re considered established on the approach. That established status lets you descend to the altitude shown along the feeder route because you’re aligned with the published approach path and the altitude constraints along that segment are protected. So you can descend to the depicted altitude as you progress toward the final approach.

If you’re not established, you wouldn’t descend yet and would need to maintain altitude or level off until you become established. The option to maintain or level off doesn’t fit the scenario when you’re already cleared for the approach and on a feeder route.