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Cutting You Loose

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The unofficial phrase "Proceed on course" is ambiguous and causes pilot confusion regarding how to resume navigation; pilots should always request clarification from ATC if uncertain about any instruction.
  • Official ATC phraseology for resuming lateral navigation varies between IFR (e.g., "Proceed direct [fix]," "rejoin airway/procedure") and VFR (e.g., "Resume own navigation," "Proceed direct [fix]"), each dictating specific maneuverability.
  • Altitude restrictions are independent of lateral navigation; "Resume own navigation" does not cancel an altitude assignment, which requires "Altitude your discretion" for release.
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Believe it or not, air traffic controllers don’t issue radar vectors for amusement. I know it might seem like it when you’re getting strung out for a sequence or for traffic, watching the time-equals-money clock ticking away, increasing the costs of your flight.

My goal as a controller is to get you on your own navigation as soon as possible— the less I vector you, the less work I have to do. The obstacle to turning you loose is that there might be traffic conflicts that require me to comply with internal traffic-flow procedures.

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