What is expected concerning routing to an Initial Approach Fix (IAF) once cleared for an approach?

When cleared for an approach, the routing to the Initial Approach Fix (IAF) can vary depending on the circumstances, and all the provided options are valid under different scenarios, which leads to the correct choice.

You can indeed go directly to the IAF without holding if the air traffic control (ATC) indicates that it's safe or expedient to do so. This situation often occurs in busy airspace or if an aircraft's position allows for a direct path to the IAF.

Additionally, if ATC instructs you to proceed via a holding fix, that indicates a need for spacing or traffic management. In this case, proceeding to the IAF via the holding fix is expected behavior.

Furthermore, if the IAF is already aligned with the route you're flying and there are no other instructions from ATC, commencing the approach at the IAF is appropriate. This means if your flight path naturally leads you to the IAF while adhering to the current clearance, you can start the approach without further rerouting.

All these options reflect how ATC may manage traffic and approaches in various situations and demonstrate the flexibility pilots have when routing to the IAF. Therefore, acknowledging that each option is a valid procedure under the right circumstances supports the conclusion that all