When cleared for the approach and RADAR vectored, how should you maintain your altitude?

When cleared for the approach and RADAR vectored, maintaining the last assigned altitude until established on a published segment is essential for safety and conformity with air traffic control (ATC) procedures. This practice ensures that the aircraft is safely separated from terrain, other aircraft, and obstacles during the final stages of the approach.

By maintaining the last assigned altitude, pilots can follow the directives provided by ATC while also being prepared to intercept the published approach path correctly. This process typically involves being instructed by ATC to descend at a specific point or to a specific altitude once the aircraft is established on the glideslope or localizer indicated by the approach plates.

Choosing a different altitude—whether increasing it or descending immediately to the minimum approach altitude—could lead to conflicts with traffic, terrain, or conditions that could jeopardize safety during a critical phase of flight. Staying at the cruising altitude until reaching the Final Approach Fix (FAF) is not recommended because it might delay the proper descent and approach configuration needed for landing.

Therefore, the correct practice of maintaining the last assigned altitude until established aligns with standard operating procedures and enhances overall flight safety during an approach.