Pilot's tip of the week

Proceed Direct

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Subscriber question:

"If on an IFR flight plan and the controller tells you in the middle of your flight to fly direct to your destination, does that mean to fly the flight plan you have been given or straight to your destination?" - Norman

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John:

“A clearance to proceed direct will always specify the point or fix to which you should fly. If ATC says proceed direct to your destination, then you should fly a direct course from your present position to your destination airport.

Proceed DirectClearance to proceed to a fix on your flight plan route and then to rejoin the route will have the phrase join victor xx, rest of route unchanged, or join victor xx, resume own navigation.

If you are on a RADAR vector, the controller must specify the point at which the vector ends and you are expected to resume your own navigation. For example – fly heading 360 intercept V1, resume own navigation.

If there is any doubt about your clearance, verify with the controller.”

(NEW) VFR Mastery scenario #96 “Hat Trick” is now available. Your mostly grown children go to college or work in three states across the midwest. Visiting one by car is a long drive both ways, but you can plan a loop trip in your Mooney and get all three with ease. It’s your spouse’s birthday soon and you concoct a plan to meet each kid for dinner over a long weekend as a birthday surprise—if the weather cooperates. It’s July and convection plus your lagging IFR proficiency makes VFR a must. Cells will move through over the next three days, but there should be a sequence of destinations and a set of routes that will make this plan work, right? Watch the Intro video.

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