Direct To Question

[SammyG]

I would like to preface this question by saying that I WILL be asking my instructor about this, he just wasn't at the airport today, and I'm ancy for an answer.

Today I went on my first IFR flight since passing my IFR checkride. I went KTIX (Space Coast Executive in Florida)-KLAL (Lakeland Linder Reg)-KTIX. The flight to LAL was uneventful. On the flight back however, I was perplexed by the clearance they gave me. I was cleared to TIX via V441, ODDEL, then direct.

Now, when hearing this I though. "Ok, I can't really go direct to TIX from ODDEL, since there's no VOR or other NAV aid on the field." So I just assumed (mistake number 1) that they would just give me vectors once I arrived at ODDEL.

Well I got off, got on 441, and even prior to ODDEL, the controller informed me "cleared direct Space Coast". Now I'm thinking "Hmm....I'm still more than 50 miles away from Space Coast...how the frig does he expect me to go direct??"

I assumed that he just meant continue on 441 to MLB VOR, where the lead-in radial for the ILS 36 approach at Space Coast originates. So, without asking any more questions, I continued on 441 (mistake number 2). After a while, the controller calls me up and asks "Are you on course?" So, I asked him "Well I assumed by direct Space Coast you meant via MLB, is that correct?". He responds "Umm...no. When I said direct Space Coast, I meant direct Space Coast, it's about a 050 heading for you now." So I just flew the heading, and the flight went on uneventfully from there.

But I'm still confused as to how they expected me to go direct to the airport from way out there. Did they assumed I had GPS? Or should I have just flown a ball-park heading to the airport using my maps? Because like I said before, there is no VOR at the airport.

I know this may be hard for some of you who aren't familiar with the Florida area to understand, but if you have any insight, it would be appreciated, thank you.

 

[cookmg]

Sammy,

There was a thread about a week back on the general forum you may be interested in:

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22367
However, even after you have read this thread, I'm not sure it will be clear why you received that "direct to" clearence. Wouldn't hurt to give the center or TRACON a call. I think it is certainly possible that they misunderstood or overlooked your equipment.

Anyways, there are many more qualified pilots here to help you. Just wanted to give you something to start looking at.

Mike

 

[cvsfly]

I " assume" you had filed a /U or /A (typical for light planes and trainers). I find controllers make "assumptions" as well and probably "assumed" you had some kind of RNAV capability as so many do nowadays. Lately I've been asking the question why they are discontinuing the use of the prefix T/ for TCAS. More than one FSS briefer has said that it is "assumed" that just about "everybody" has that capability now. I begged to differ, but that was that. I guess they forget about the little guys capabilities now or is it they think we can all afford $200,000 dollar avionics equipment in a $50,000 plane? At any rate never "assume". Speak up. If you don't have the capability to fly direct, let them know and they most likely will have a vector for you. Of course, even prior to getting in the air, question the clearance and the lost comm implications. There has been another thread going on about this that brings up other suggestions such as dead reckoning, triangulation, etc. but I can't contribute to that discussion.

 

[siucavflight]

I had the same thing happen to me with ST Louis TRACON. They asked me to go direct, when i filed i filed /U. I asked the controller how was i supposed to go direct. He then said that he was hoping that i had a GPS that i could use. I told him i didnt and that is why i did not file /G. He ignored me and told me to keep flying the airway.

 

[jdog78]

I have to agree that this is quite unusual on the part of the controller. Perhaps there was confusion regarding your clearance or your equipment. I certainly don't believe that a controller would just assume your aircraft is equipped with a GPS. Who can afford such things??
Regardless, you should always speak up if you are uncomfortable about the situation in which you find yourself. Most controllers are willing to help if there is a problem. I think you handled the situation just fine and you learned what to do the next time you encounter such problems.

-j

 

[Checks]

How would you go direct to an airport if you were flying VFR?

Do the same under IFR. Fly a heading to the airport and keep abreast of your position via cross tuning some VOR's and/or NDB's.

 

[great cornholio]

Well the easiest thing to do when you get a direct to clearence in the air that isnt a VOR and you dont have gps is to say "unable direct to but we can take a heading" Then they will vector you to wherever they gave you direct to. If you were confused on the ground then the best thing would have been for you to ask for clarifacation on the ground thru clearance del or ground. You managed to stay alive and not piss off atc too much so no harm no foul. Anyways it was your first trip under IFR since your checkride so congrats on that at least you learned somethin new anyways.