NOT FOR NAVIGATION NW-1, 18 NOV 2010 to  V 2010 to 16 DEC 2010  2010  F igur 4-6. P r oc edures with cir cling landing minima. be received from the air route traffic control center (ARTCC)  to contact approach control on a specified frequency.  Where radar is approved for approach control service, it is  used not only for radar approaches, but also for vectors in  conjunction with published non-radar approaches using  conventional NAVAIDs or RNAV/GPS.  When radar handoffs are initiated between the ARTCC  and approach control, or between two approach control  facilities, aircraft are cleared (with vertical separation) to  an outer fix most appropriate to the route being flown  and, if required, given holding instructions. Or, aircraft  are cleared to the airport or to a fix so located that the  handoff is completed prior to the time the aircraft reaches  the fix. When radar handoffs are used, successive arriving  flights may be handed off to approach control with radar  separation in lieu of vertical separation.  After release to approach control, aircraft are vectored  to the final approach course. ATC occasionally vectors  the aircraft across the final approach course for spacing  requirements. The pilot is not expected to turn inbound  on the final approach course unless an approach clearance  has been issued. This clearance is normally issued with the  final vector for interception of the final approach course,  and the vector enables the pilot to establish the aircraft on  the final approach course prior to reaching the FAF.  ARTCCs are approved for and may provide approach  control services to specific airports. The radar systems used  by these centers do not provide the same precision as an  ASR or precision approach radar (PAR) used by approach  control facilities and control towers, and the update rate  is not as fast. Therefore, pilots may be requested to report  established on the final approach course. Whether aircraft  are vectored to the appropriate final approach course or  provide their own navigation on published routes to it,  radar service is automatically terminated when the landing  is completed; or when instructed to change to advisory  frequency at airports without an operating ATC tower,  whichever occurs first. When arriving on an IFR flight plan  at an airport with an operating control tower, the flight  plan is closed automatically upon landing.  The extent of services provided by approach control varies  greatly from location to location. The majority of Part 121  operations in the NAS use airports that have radar service  and approach control facilities to assist in the safe arrival  and departure of large numbers of aircraft. Many airports  do not have approach control facilities. It is important for  pilots to understand the differences between approaches  with and without an approach control facility. For example,  Approach control is r esponsible for controlling all  instrument flights operating within its area of responsibility.  Approach control may serv e one or more airports. Control  is exercised primarily thr ough direct pilot and controller  communication and airpor t surveillance radar (ASR). Prior  to arriving at the initial appr oach fix (IAF), instructions will  Example: If ther is no altitude alerter in the aircraft, then  both pilots write down the clearance, confirm that they  have the same altitude and then cross off the previously  assigned altitude.  Example: The PM ackno wledges ATC altitude clearance . If  the aircraft is on the aut opilot , then the PF makes input into  the autopilot/altitude alert er. PF points to the input while  stating the assigned altitude as he or she understands it.  The PM then points t the input stating aloud what he or  she understands the AT clearance to be confirming that  the input and clearance mat ch. If the aircraft is being hand- flown, then the P makes the input into the altitude alerter/  autopilot, then points t the input and states clearance.  PF then points to the alert er stating aloud what he or she  understands the ATC clear ance to be confirming that the  alerter and clearance match. if an crewmember is off the fligh deck all A TC  instruc tions are writt en down until his or her r etur n  and then passed t that crewmember upon r etur n.  Similar ly, if a cr ewmember is off ATC fr equenc y  when mak ing a precision appr oach (PA announc emen t  or when talking on company fr equenc y all A TC  instruc tions are brief ed upon his or her r etur n. Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)  Approach Control  4-13  • C ompan y polic should address use of speakers,  h e a d sets, boom mi crophone, and/or han d - h e ld  micr ophone .  •  SOP should stat the altitude awareness c ompan y  polic on confirming assigned altitude. 