following exists:  1. When the reported ceiling is at least 500 feet above  the minimum vectoring altitude or minimum IFR  altitude and the visibility is at least 3 NM (report  may be a pilot report if no weather is reported for  the airport), aircraft may be vectored to intercept  the final approach course closer than 2 NM outside  the approach gate but no closer than the approach  gate.  2. If specifically requested by a pilot, ATC may vector  aircraft to intercept the final approach course inside  the approach gate but no closer than the final  approach fix (FAF).  1. Position relative to a fix on the final approach course.  If none is portrayed on the controller’s radar display  or if none is prescribed in the instrument approach  procedure, ATC issues position information relative  to the airport or relative to the NAVAID that provides  final approach guidance.  2. Vector to intercept the final approach course if  required.  3. Approach clearance except when conducting a radar  approach. ATC issues the approach clearance only  after the aircraft is established on a segment of a  published route or instrument approach procedure, or  in the following examples as depicted in Figure 3-21.  4000  12 DME  ALPHA  IAF  FAF  Straight-in ILS  For a precision approach, aircraft are vectored at an altitude  that is not above the glideslope/glidepath or below the  minimum glideslope/glidepath intercept altitude specified  on the approach procedure chart. For a non-precision  approach, aircraft are vectored at an altitude that allows  descent in accordance with the published procedure.  When a vector takes the aircraft across the final approach  course, pilots are informed by ATC and the reason for the  action is stated. In the event that ATC is not able to inform  the aircraft, the pilot is not expected to turn inbound on  the final approach course unless an approach clearance has  been issued. An example of ATC phraseology in this case  is, “… expect vectors across final for spacing.”  The following ATC arrival instructions are issued to an IFR  aircraft before it reaches the approach gate:  Aircraft 1 was vectored to the final approach course  but clearance was withheld. It is now at 4,000 feet and  established on a segment of the instrument approach  procedure. “Seven miles from X-RAY. Cleared ILS runway  three six approach.”  Aircraft 2 is being vectored to a published segment of  the final approach course, 4 NM from LIMA at 2,000 feet.  The minimum vectoring altitude for this area is 2,000 feet.  “Four miles from LIMA. Turn right heading three four zero.  Maintain two thousand until established on the localizer.  Cleared ILS runway three six approach.”  Aircraft 3: There are many times when it is desirable to  position an aircraft onto the final approach course prior to  a published, charted segment of an instrument approach  procedure (IAP).  Sometimes IAPs have no initial segment and require  vectors. “RADAR REQUIRED” is charted in the plan view.  Sometimes a route intersects an extended final approach  course making a long intercept desirable.  When ATC issues a vector or clearance to the final approach  course beyond the published segment, controllers assign  an altitude to maintain until the aircraft is established on  a segment of a published route or IAP. This ensures that  3-25  Figure 3-22. Arrival instructions when not established. 