Question

Your clearance is to Dekalb-Peachtree (KPDK) and includes the DIFFI 3 ARRIVAL. If nearing arrival at the DIFFI waypoint and you have not received any radar vectors, you are expected to:?

1) Enter a hold at DIFFI with right turns, one minute legs standard.
2) Proceed directly to the airport from DIFFI.
3) Fly the R-172 to the RMG VOR.
4) Query ATC, or if you have lost communications, follow the lost communications procedures.

Answer 1

If nearing the DIFFI waypoint without radar vectors, query ATC for guidance; if communications are lost, follow lost communications procedures.

Step-by-step explanation:

If nearing the DIFFI waypoint without radar vectors, query ATC for guidance; if communications are lost, follow lost communications procedures. If nearing arrival at the DIFFI waypoint and you have not received any radar vectors, as a pilot you are expected to: query ATC, or if you have lost communications, follow the lost communications procedures.

The option to enter a hold at DIFFI with right turns, one-minute legs standard, is generally part of lost communication procedures if no other instructions are available and depending on the published arrival procedures for that waypoint. Similarly, proceeding directly to the airport from DIFFI or flying the R-172 to the RMG VOR might be part of these procedures, but they would be followed only if depicted in the approach plates or if they had been part of the last assigned route by ATC before communications were lost. If you are not in a lost comms situation, the appropriate action is to contact air traffic control for further instructions.