What does this instruction mean?
Could someone in ATC give me a straight answer to the following question? I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing.
Frequently at the airfield I operate from (a major airport) the approach controller will say the following either before or after established on the localiser for the runway in use.
ATC: "WF123 DESCEND ALTITUDE 2500 FT FURTHER WITH THE GLIDESLOPE"
Does this mean that the aircraft is or is not cleared to descend on reaching the glideslope. ATC will frequently say in their next transmission (in response to a localiser established call):
ATC: "WF123 CLEARED FOR THE APPROACH RUNWAY XXR"
This sometimes sounds like the aircraft was never cleared for the descent on the glideslope in the first place.
In most cases the second trasmission comes before the initial cleared altitude and it isn't a big deal, but sometimes the frequency is quite busy and the cleared altitude is reached and glideslope intercept occurs before the second transmission. Is it OK to descend?
Up to now I have assumed YES.
Respectfully,
A four striper.