Hi, I did a short flight between EGCC & EGGW. The flightplan was EGCC LISTO2R LISTO HON ASKEY2H EGGW (this was the flightplan entered in FMS). Cruise altitude was 13,000ft & aircraft was ATR 72-500. I also used FS Global real weather.
In PF3, I loaded the flightplan as: EGCC LISTO HON EGGW with end of SID indicated at LISTO & start of STAR indicated at HON (as mentioned in respective SID & STAR plates). I had un-ticked "STARs Active" so as to receive vectors to final to active runway at Luton (as required by STAR procedure as well). At HON, PF3 cleared me for ASKEY2H STAR, handed over to approach & cleared to descend to 5,000ft. After this, things got strange. As I passed CLIPY, I was asked to descend to 500ft! Ideally I would have expected runway assignment & approach vectors at this point but I did not get any. After a short while, I was cleared to pilot discretion to runway 26 at 3,000ft. After this, I manually flew the remaining part of the STAR & joined the outer marker for runway 26 & executed a normal landing.
Questions:
1. Why did PF3 ask me to descend to 500ft?
2. Despite un-checking "STARs Active", why weren't vectors provided to the active runway? HON is located > 30NM from EGGW & that should have been sufficient for PF3 to provide adequate vectors to final.
3. Another strange thing I observed - When I was handed over to approach by center, pilot mentioned the current altitude as 12,500ft. However, I was at 13,000ft with the correct altimeter dialed in.
I tried the above route with the same FP as well & again I was never provided vectors.
I am attaching the logs for the flight.
Thanks!