ATC contradictory instruction : Fly heading XXX°, resume own navigation to ZZZZZ

Bug Reporting Hub ATC, Traffic & NAVAIDs
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ISSUE DESCRIPTION

Description of the issue:

ATC giving the following instruction : “Fly heading XXX°, resume own navigation to ZZZZZ” does not mean anything since the first part implies that ATC will provide guidance with vectors and the second part implies that the aircraft should fly direct to ZZZZZ, resulting in 2 contradictory instructions in the same transmission.

If applicable, which aircraft is experiencing this issue:

ALL

[PC Only] Did you remove all your community mods/add-ons? If yes, are you still experiencing the issue?

YES

FREQUENCY OF ISSUE

How often does this occur for you (Example: Just once, every time on sim load, intermittently)?

EVERYTIME

REPRODUCTION STEPS

Please list clear steps you took in order to help our test team reproduce the same issue:

1.Fly IFR flight using ATC, issue noticed during career missions
2. Ensure ATC use during all flight
3.Instruction will be given at some point

YOUR SETTINGS

If the issue still occurs with no mods and add-ons, please continue to report your issue. If not, please move this post to the User Support Hub.

What peripherals are you using, if relevant:

NOT RELEVANT

[PC Only] Are you using Developer Mode or have you made any changes to it?

NO

[PC, MSFS 2020 Only] Are you using DX11 or DX12?

[PC Only] What GPU (Graphics Card) do you use?

NOT RELEVANT

[PC Only] What other relevant PC specs can you share?

NOT RELEVANT

MEDIA

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[END OF FIRST USER REPORT]

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3

Same issue. This has been a thing ever since 2020, and has always confused me.

4

I’m no RL pilot, so maybe I’m wrong, but I would interpret the request as to follow the given heading until reaching the flight plan path, from where you should then follow that path to the given waypoint. I also have gotten that request a few times, and at first it did not seem logical to me as the given heading often would lead me away from the path, but I think the timing might be important. Whenever I got that request, it was when taking off from an uncontrolled airfield under VFR and filing IFR after takeoff. I don’t exactly know anymore how I was flying on my earlier flights, but on my last flights I maintained my heading to the path while talking to ATC, and the given heading would be nearly identical to the one I was already flying.

5

Personal Comments and Observations

Fly heading is an initial directive, ATC is not telling you to fly this heading indefinitely. It can be used as a preamble to additional vectors, but not exclusively.

Once you are clear of obstructions/hazards, like other traffic, you will resume own navigation.

6

That is just not how it works in real life (B737 pilot here).

Heading : ATC is responsible of your position in regards to any danger, and will guide you by using vectors (headings) (used in terminal area for flexibility or temporary enroute for traffic separation)

Resume own navigation : You are responsible of position and should use your instruments for navigation (used most of the time)

On top of beeing an incorrect instruction, as TGAMerlin said, the heading will eventually take you away from your intended path so you cannot comply with both intructions.

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