BOAC...
Sorry but you're wrong on that last post (re PAR v/s SRA). As a result 'tis you who may be confusing some folks.
The RAF (and indeed the USAF, RCAF, RAAF, etc) often practised "No Glideslope" PAR approaches -- exactly as described by Fox3WMB. The intent was of course to simulate the scenario wherein the vertical portion of the PAR system (glideslope) is unserviceable. The practise paid off well for both PAR controllers and pilots, as I personally know of more than one occasion when the PAR glideslope info was U/S or unavailable when PAR was the only available approach aid.
grizz
To explain it a bit further:
The SRA approach is monitored by the area surveilance radar, an antenna which turns 360° and a scope as well 360°.
The PAR approach uses two antennas pointing to the arrival section, one for the vertical azimuth or glideslope and one for the horizontal azimuth, the approach course, and two correspondent scopes for the controller. If the glideslope is out or unreliable, the azimuth part will still give you an exact lineup. However, it is often named as an SRA, because the minimums of an SRA approach will apply.
However, and again: What was it there over in smolensk? Where did the information concerning the glideslope come from? Was the appropriate equipment available? It still doesnīt make sense, that ATC is calling "on glidepath, on course" when they had no equipment to get the information from. And if they had the equipment, how did it work, because the information transmitted is more off than on. And to what use was the information intended to aid? Just for info for the crew or was it part of a talkdown on whatever approach it might have been.
BOAC (sorry for adressing you direct), i know you dont like those questions, however therefore iīm interested in your opinion not on a global view, but on a direct answer to those questions.
Alice, also your good work did not provide an answer to those questions either. We heard how it should have been, but no explanation why it was like that. The controller is complaining, that the crew did not read the altitude to him. But he didnīt ask the crew at least once.
This ATC stuff is not for blaming ATC, it was still the crew who flew the aircraft in to the ground, but it offers reasons why the crew faulted.
franzl