ZIGGY 4 ARR for Ontario would probably be the one filed for coming from NW as indicated on the airdrome chart for El Monte. It brings you all the way around to PDZ. Not sure whether this has got anything to do with with the LAX airspace structure. :ok:

9.G = While I usually get he Z4 pretty early, it's always possible to lose radios prior to that clearance, and have to fly last known assigned alt/clearance to IAP.

9.G:

As a practical matter, coming from any distance you would usually get that or the other STAR. They indeed add flight path miles (at least arriving from the NW to avoid LAX inbounds. But, V197 can avoid LAX inbounds, albeit with more handling by the Ontario area SoCal folks. And, if KONT is busy then V197 conflicts with the Pomona SID. But, KONT is often not busy, especially these days.

But, it is possible to get PMD V197 POM under some traffic conditions.

The circumstances do make a good hypothetical. Before those STARS came into being, coming from the NW, V197 if filed was usually granted with a crossing restriction at POM then a heading for vectors to final west of POM.

Sure, no objections here on my side, theficklefinger.:ok:

If filed and approved by all means I don't see any reason not to fly it as it shortens the mileage quite a bit. In practical terms whatever the dispatcher has filed as ATS flight plan I'll simply follow it, I don't have time and resources to explore all possible filing options during preflight briefing however knowing the local particularities may prompt a request to ATC while airborne to reroute if feasible.:ok:

9.g:

KEMT is Piper/Cessna type airport. Coming down from the north is ususally over EHF. Being able to go PMD-POM cuts off a lot of miles.

I'm reading this with interest as the same issues came up last week as I was completing my JAA IR in Ireland.

Transiting from Dublin/Weston (EIWT) to Knock (EIKN) I was outside of the entry sector for the base turn for the ILS approach at EIKN. Looking to avoid the hold, I inquired about requesting manoeuvring space to the west of the beacon (within the DOC) to enable alignment with the base turn sector. No one had any problems with that, although I was cautioned that if the airspace was occupied that it would be denied. Fair enough...

In the end the examiner needed to see a hold so I just did the hold for alignment on the test itself:)