B747 captain reports confusion transitioning from the siera 1G arrival to the ILS runway 25R. The cr...

Narrative:

Flight to vhhh proceeded according to plan and procedure until encountering a non standard approach clearance from vhhk radar. The flight was initially told to expect the sierra 1G arrival and was subsequently changed to the sierra 6D arrival. The non pilot flying made adjustments to the FMC. Both pilots conferred with the appropriate charts confirming the routing. The pilot flying noticed a route discontinuity and closed it advising the non pilot flying. The briefing anticipated radar vectors to final; which occurs 99.999% of the time at vhhh. The final controller cleared flight for the approach to 25R by the 'full arrival'. The non pilot flying questioned the controller regarding the clearance. The controller repeated the same non standard terminology. The pilot flying stated that he wanted the flight to navigate to final via LNAV. Immediately following the td fix the controller canceled approach clearance and vectored the flight to final claiming non standard routing. Another flight following us also questioned the non standard approach clearance phraseology. Evidently; the controller wanted us to fly the td transition; but never stated this. The flight concluded safely.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B747 Captain reports confusion transitioning from the SIERA 1G arrival to the ILS Runway 25R. The crew is cleared by ATC for the ILS Runway 25R via the full arrival; which the crew does not comprehend. Ultimately the Controller issues radar vectors to the 25R ILS.

Narrative: Flight to VHHH proceeded according to plan and procedure until encountering a non standard approach clearance from VHHK Radar. The flight was initially told to expect the Sierra 1G arrival and was subsequently changed to the Sierra 6D arrival. The non pilot flying made adjustments to the FMC. Both pilots conferred with the appropriate charts confirming the routing. The pilot flying noticed a route discontinuity and closed it advising the non pilot flying. The briefing anticipated radar vectors to final; which occurs 99.999% of the time at VHHH. The Final Controller cleared flight for the approach to 25R by the 'full arrival'. The non pilot flying questioned the Controller regarding the clearance. The Controller repeated the same non standard terminology. The pilot flying stated that he wanted the flight to navigate to final via LNAV. Immediately following the TD fix the Controller canceled approach clearance and vectored the flight to final claiming non standard routing. Another flight following us also questioned the non standard approach clearance phraseology. Evidently; the Controller wanted us to fly the TD transition; but never stated this. The flight concluded safely.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1187982
Time
Date	201407
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	VHHH.Airport
State Reference	FO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B747-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Route In Use	Other Controlled
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 80 Flight Crew Total 20000 Flight Crew Type 3500
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

B747 captain reports confusion transitioning from the siera 1G arrival to the ILS runway 25R. The crew is cleared by ATC for the ILS runway 25R via the full arrival; which the crew does not comprehend. Ultimately the controller issues radar vectors to the 25R ILS.