While being vectored toward the final approach course in IMC, a pilot maintaining 4,000 feet hears ATC transmit: 'Radar contact lost, resume own navigation, proceed direct KKZN VOR, maintain 4,000 until established on the localizer, cleared ILS Runway 9 approach.' The KKZN VOR lies on a published feeder route with a segment MEA of 3,000 feet. What altitude should the pilot maintain until intercepting the localizer?
- AMaintain 4,000 feet as explicitly assigned by ATC until established on the localizer, then continue the published approach
- BDescend to the glideslope intercept altitude immediately since ATC issued an approach clearance
- CClimb back to the last assigned en route altitude prior to vectors since radar contact was lost
- DDescend immediately to the feeder route MEA of 3,000 feet since radar contact is no longer available
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Maintain 4,000 feet as explicitly assigned by ATC until established on the localizer, then continue the published approach
Even though radar contact was lost, ATC explicitly assigned an altitude to maintain ('maintain 4,000 until established on the localizer') along with the approach clearance. A pilot must comply with the specific altitude instruction given, not default to the charted MEA or any other altitude, until established on a published segment of the approach that specifies a different altitude.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Incorrect — glideslope intercept only occurs after established on the localizer at the assigned altitude
- C. Incorrect — there is no requirement to climb back to a prior en route altitude; the clearance is clear and controlling
- D. Incorrect — the pilot must comply with the ATC-assigned altitude of 4,000, not descend early to the MEA
Radar Contact Lost — Altitude Compliance
When ATC states 'radar contact lost' but issues a specific approach clearance with an altitude instruction, the pilot must comply with that stated altitude until established on the approach, rather than reverting to charted altitudes.
- Explicit ATC altitude instructions override default charted altitudes
- 'Resume own navigation' concerns lateral routing, not altitude
- Pilot must remain at assigned altitude until established on a published segment
Memory trick: When ATC says a number, that number wins — don't guess the chart.