Question on ATC "close up the approach" (CYYZ)

[delta092b]

I listen to the CYYZ feed quite often and I can actually see both towers at YYZ from my apartment and have good views of the 24L and 23 approaches

One of the things I often here ATC ask pilots is "do you want to close up the approach" and was wondering what exactly this means.

From what I can tell it seems to occur for smaller aircraft (AC Jazz etc.) and it almost seems like they do it as a favour but often aircraft decline the offer and they are given further instructions and then proceed for a normal ILS or visual approach.

Are they asking if they want to take a shortcut or a shorter final approach?

Just curious

[jonnevin]

I am guessing that is referring to a short approach, deviating from the standard procedure. The equivalent of being given the "visual" and turning direct towards the field. 

[Scrapper]

If I'm not mistaken, closing up the approach actually means joining the two points on the STAR that are not closed (ie. certain STARs end at the downwind Termination waypoint and require vectors to the final approach course fix. By closing the approach, the controller is essentially allowing the aircraft to fly the STAR and upon arriving at the DTW, to fly direct the FACF and then fly the approach (and therefore no longer requiring vectors). This can be done when traffic allows it, but the STAR is built with a DTW so that if there is a lot of traffic, you can essentially extend the downwind with vectors and vector the aircraft to final in its appropriate sequence... any canadian terminal controllers on here want to back me up? (or correct me as the case may be?)

[jonnevin]

that sounds like a much better answer than my guess.

[bcrosby]

Take a look at:

http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopic.php?f=68&t=48416

I posted the question there

[delta092b]

Great thanks for all the responses and answers It was more complicated than I thought!