plane4

Let's say you are cleared IFR direct from point A to point B and your on course heading is 090. Halfway through the flight you request deviation left 10 degrees for some buildups. A few minutes later you’re past the buildups and ATC says "proceed on course". Your new direct on course heading is 100. Do you fly 100 direct to point B or fly back to the right to intercept the original 090 course between A and B?

N9373M

My guess/past experience is 100'.

DirectTo

I think the verbiage from ATC is far more commonly "deviations (L or R) of course approved, when able proceed direct (fix)". You do what you need to do, then go back direct to where you were headed before or wherever ATC sent you and give them a heads up.

I've always gotten it that way, from GA flying up to the airlines.

rickair7777

If they give you "proceed on course" in that situation they would have to give you a vector to intercept. I don't think they're allowed to just let you fly around however you want on an IFR plan.

piper338

A few weeks ago CLT shut down all arrivals.... I was given the option to hold or in ATCs own words, "Just fly around."

DirectTo

Please, please, please say you took the latter option.

plane4

Thanks everyone. Once I was flying direct one day and ATC had me fly 10 left to stay away from IND approach. After about 5-10 minutes they told me to "proceed on course". I started flying back to the original course line and after awhile they queried what I was doing. Nothing big came of it though. On a different flight I deviated for weather. After awhile the controller asked if I was back on course. I told him I was and just used the new course but I was not sure if I was supposed to fly back to the first course or just fly direct from my new position. Never really found out and I hate to ask on the radio... It would be nice to have a reference of the correct action to take.

TonyWilliams

What if there isn't radar?

dn_wisconsin

Tony, if I remember correctly you still fly in Africa. So I'm sure you deal with this quite a bit. From what I have learned in Latin and South America, most of which has radar coverage now American controllers have gotten just as lazy on the radio as the pilots have. Down south the hardest problem I have is understanding the accents and how fast they speak but never have questioned the proper ICAO verbage. When I've deviated off an airway the response has either been cleared direct to XXX or rejoin XXX airway to XXX. Never have I received "cleared on course" as far as I can tell that is an American thing. Back to the OP, next time get a clearance to the next point with the deviation clearance. Such as N1234, 10 degrees left of course approved cleared direct XXX when able. This would also help with a lost comm, ATC won't be wondering where you are going if they can't reach you.

TonyWilliams

I was also an FAA air traffic controller for 2 decades also, here in California.

Not flying right now, but yes, in Africa, every day was non-radar dodging huge CB's in the ITCZ.

In the USA, in a non-radar situation, it would be "resume own navigation on course" or "via J100" or "via ABC 104 radial", but never "direct".

In Africa, I really didn't care what they said, so we just got the job done, usually without telling them, since it would just be a MESS. Big sky theory.