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Hey guys,

I am in a VFR course and I was curious about the Auto Control Transfer agreements. If anyone remembers March Airport, thats the layout I am referring to, and if not, then think something similar to CYKF - Rwys 09/27 and 14/32.

Assume that according to the agreement the Auto transfer happens when the aircraft is in the zone and on "final approach". When it is a straight in ILS DME 09 approach then it is clear that as soon as the aircraft enters the zone it is your control (provided all other criterea is met)

My question is if the approach given is NDB 14 Circling for 09. Is it assumed that the plane is on final when it is on approach for Rwy14 or is it when the plane is circling for 09, or is it once the plane is lined up with 09.

My interpretation is that once the plane is on the NDB approach for 14 it is on final since if it misses it will have to fly Rwy 14 missed approach.

Any insight?
Thanks.

A better question is what do your instructors say is the correct answer.

I had typed up my usual long-winded answer, but then thought better of posting it. I agree with kevenv: Your instructors should be teaching you what you need to know. Are you disagreeing with them and asking for the support of others outside your group to justify your position? As always, I'm open to more discussion. What do your instructors say?

at first they said it was my original stand, but then they said it is when the plane is lined up down the center line. This is not to disagree with my instructors but simply to try to gain clarity on the issue from other controllers. thanks.

OK. You'll find some things tend to generate discussion like this, as different people come up with different interpretations. Here's my take.

You seem to be defining "final approach leg" by the instrument approach procedure. The instrument approach procedure is not much more than a glorified cloud breaking procedure. The idea is to guide the aircraft along a safe course to a point where the runway environment can be sighted and a landing completed. The runway the approach is lined up with doesn't matter from an airport control stand point.

Think of this: What leg is he on when he breaks off the approach to circle for 09 and he's still north of the approach path heading 180-ish? Consider something like an NDB A approach, where the whole procedure is not lined up with any runway. He would be considered on final approach to what? Suggesting that the inbound leg of the NDB 14 approach makes him established on final for runway 09 would be analogous to saying that someone VFR inbound from the north and cleared left hand to runway 09 would be on final as he crosses the extended centerline of runway 14 at some point. The aircraft is on final when he's lined up with the landing runway centerline.

The aircraft must be in, and remain within, the control zone before he can be your control. While the AIM clearly describes where the aircraft should fly on a circling procedure, some pilots take a very liberal, and potentially hazardous, idea of the term "circling".

The missed approach procedure shouldn't factor into this at all, since that has nothing to do with landing -- that's what he does if he can't land. Besides, if he's your control, wouldn't you instruct him to join the circuit like a VFR aircraft if he had to go around?

I urge you to print this out and take it to your instructors. That way they can see what information you've obtained and they can discuss it with you and make sure you're on the right path in your training. You have to be careful when researching aviation topics on the internet. The sources are often obscure, and the writers often write like authorities -- even if they're wrong. What matters is your instructors' points of view. They'll be the ones determining if you've learned what you need to know.