ACR CAPT CLAIMS HE CANNOT COMPLY WITH TWR CLRNC TO MAKE A TURN OF GREATER THAN 180 DEGS WITHIN 3 NM OF THE ARPT.

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WHEN HOU TWR CLRS YOU FOR TKOF THEY ASSIGN A HDG TO TURN TO AND ADD THE RESTRICTION THAT THE TURN SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN 3 MI (DME?) FOR THOSE OF US GOING TO THE UPPER MIDWEST THE INSTRUCTION IS ALWAYS TO TURN L TO 360 DEGS. WE HAVE TO TURN L EVEN IF THAT IS THE LONGER WAY AROUND TO 360 DEGS. TWR MAKES NO MENTION OF THE RESTRICTION UNTIL ISSUING TKOF CLRNC; THUS THE CREW HAS NO TIME TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT THE ACFT CAN PERFORM THE TURN WITHIN THAT RATHER TIGHT LIMIT. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT IT MAY SOMETIMES BE IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPLY WITH THE RESTRICTION; AND THE PROBLEM IS MADE WORSE BY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NO INFO OTHER THAN EXPERIENCE AND SAVVY UPON WHICH TO BASE OUR DECISION. HOU TWR'S CUSTOM/PROC OF NOT NOTIFYING THE CREW OF THE RESTRICTION UNTIL ISSUING TKOF CLRNC FORCES US TO MAKE A SNAP JUDGEMENT; AND THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT THE WAY TO MAKE A GOOD; ACCURATE JUDGEMENT. AS I UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION; HOU TWR ONLY CTLS THE AIRSPACE OUT TO 3 MI. IF AN ACFT IS GOING TO EXCEED 3 MI HOU MUST COORDINATE WITH ANOTHER FACILITY.