What must you hear from ATC to begin an approach?

• A. Turn right heading 270
• B. Cleared for the approach
• C. Descend and maintain
• D. Contact approach, 120.3

Answer: (B)

To begin an instrument approach you must receive explicit clearance from ATC to fly the approach. When you hear “cleared for the approach,” you’re authorized to execute the published procedure, including the final approach, and to descend within the restrictions shown on the approach chart as coordinated with ATC. Without that clearance, you stay on your current clearance or follow any vectors ATC provides.

The other phrases don’t authorize starting the approach. A heading instruction is used to guide you onto the approach path but doesn’t grant permission to commence the approach. A descent clearance by itself might tell you to lower to a certain altitude, but it doesn’t specifically authorize beginning the approach procedure. And a frequency change to contact approach is simply switching to the controller handling the approach; it doesn’t by itself grant the approach clearance.