Narrative:

During approach to runway 12R at stl, using the lda/DME approach, stl TRACON was vectoring us at non standard altitudes, 6500 ft and 5500 ft. During the approach, we were vectored 35 NM northwest of csx, putting outside of the class B airspace. The WX there was ok for VFR traffic. At that location, the arrival path to runway 12R crosses V4. Better options would have been to hold us at efficient speeds away from the approach instead of using a 35 NM final or have us at standard IFR altitudes. Add this to the list of non standard procedures at stl, eg, runway xings on ground control, heading vectors less than 5 degrees, too close spacings between lndgs and takeoffs resulting in frequent gars.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLT CREW EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER PERCEIVED NON STANDARD ATC PROC UTILIZED IN THE STL AREA.

Narrative: DURING APCH TO RWY 12R AT STL, USING THE LDA/DME APCH, STL TRACON WAS VECTORING US AT NON STANDARD ALTS, 6500 FT AND 5500 FT. DURING THE APCH, WE WERE VECTORED 35 NM NW OF CSX, PUTTING OUTSIDE OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. THE WX THERE WAS OK FOR VFR TFC. AT THAT LOCATION, THE ARR PATH TO RWY 12R CROSSES V4. BETTER OPTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN TO HOLD US AT EFFICIENT SPDS AWAY FROM THE APCH INSTEAD OF USING A 35 NM FINAL OR HAVE US AT STANDARD IFR ALTS. ADD THIS TO THE LIST OF NON STANDARD PROCS AT STL, EG, RWY XINGS ON GND CTL, HDG VECTORS LESS THAN 5 DEGS, TOO CLOSE SPACINGS BTWN LNDGS AND TKOFS RESULTING IN FREQUENT GARS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.