Whenever we fly from point A to point B, many of us use the Victor airway system. We pick a route that offers us the smallest increase beyond a great circle distance, or the highest groundspeed and these days, especially perhaps the widest berth from unfriendly airspace. Not always will we get the route we filed and, too often, 288
Going (And Being) Direct
Whenever we fly from point A to point B, many of us use the Victor airway system. We pick a route that offers us the smallest increase beyond a great circle distance, or the highest groundspeed and these days, especially perhaps the widest berth from unfriendly airspace. Not always will we get the route we filed and, too often, the cleared route will put us at a major disadvantage.
Key Takeaways:
- Pilots often receive circuitous routes or denied direct clearances due to the inherent complexity of the National Airspace System, which prioritizes safety, efficient traffic flow, controller workload, and established inter-facility coordination (Letters of Agreement).
- Despite these system constraints, pilots are encouraged to actively and professionally communicate their preferences, ask for alternatives, provide context for requests, and negotiate with ATC for more favorable routing.
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