Opinions of atcos on best thing to do here
Hi guys, wonder if you can give me a bit advse regarding a recent vfr flight in europe.
Approaching airfield after a vfr cross country flight, airfield is controlled and within class c airspace. I am cleared to a vrp which is situated roughly on long final for the active runway, by use of the phrase "proceed initally to xxxx report over". As I'm approaching the point I can see and hear that the circuit is rather busy (4 or so fixed wing on left hand ccts and 2 rotary on right hand). Once overhead I report to the controller. No reply and he starts issuing circuit traffic with further instructions. At this point I can't get a word in, I have the circuit and final approach to the north, I am visual with 1 rotary traffic on downwind and one fixed wing about to turn base. I have a working area with training traffic to my west, and with no further clearance and no chance to ask, I begin to make an orbit to avoid penetrating the training area. At this point the controller who is talking to the circuit traffic informs the aircraft now on base that he is number 2 to myself leaving the vrp to join final, and then berates me for not continuing my approach and for orbiting without informing him.
What would have been a preferred option? Up until this point I had not been informed of any sequencing, continuing my approach would have conflicted with circuit traffic, continuing my track through passed the vrp would have involved me stumbling into a training area.
Should I have proceeded straight from vrp to final, despite being cleared "initially" to the vrp with no further clearance.
Thanks for any opinions.
Last edited by XiRho; 14th August 2012 at 23:47.