Oh, well, if you
never have had to fly a full procedure before on an airport without STAR-procedures or radar, then I guess that would have to do with the topography of the airports you fly to.
Due to the terrain around certain airports, the initial approach altitude is lower than the MSA in the area. If you don't have a STAR or a radar controller, which both gives you a track toward the IAF and safe terrain clearance, you would have to fly overhead the airport/Nav-beacon/fix/whatever, before starting descent to initial approach altitude.
Whe it comes to ATC, I think you have to read my post again.
Let me quote myself:
(...)getting an aircraft down on the ground is a matter of careful cooperation between the pilots and the ATC controllers.
-Does it sound like I underestimate our ATC brothers? If the ATC controller doesn't have a radar, there's really not much he can do in the described situation, other than saying "Cleared approach," and making sure there is no conflicting traffic in the approach sector.
If the only described procedure to get from MSA to initial approach altitude is by entering a racetrack or a procedure turn (or maybe a holding) you have to do it. If the ATC controller clears you to "Intercept 15 miles final for straight in," that might be a nice gesture, but following that clearance could be fatal.
...And "The old days" is not too far back in Norway either. We also have several airports without radar or STARS. Many of these don't have STARS due to the surrounding terrain.
That's why I think I might have some input for mr. LETS FLY.
Nick.
Edited to clarify some points...
[ 26 September 2001: Message edited by: Nick Figaretto ]