Cleared direct....

[EatSleepFly]

For those of you who fly /G equipped aircraft below FL180...

Whats the furthest distance you have been cleared direct to your destination?

Me- Aprox. 450nm (Cleveland, OH to southern TN).

Also, a question about going direct long distances- You are supposed to file to one Navaid in each Center's airspace, right? Well when I filed for that trip, I forgot to do that and just filed direct, but was cleared as filed anyways. And I went through Cleveland, Indy, and Memphis centers. Anyone have any idea why it didn't matter?

 

[starcheck1]

Read this article written by a controller and you will find out why you are supposed to file as requested in the AIM. AvWeb Article

 

[Ophir]

I was cleared direct from Destin, FL up to Reliegh/Durham this spring. I can't remember how far it was but I went through three center's airspace. They just said "Cleared as filed" . . . . and away I went.

Funny thing was I had flown the opposite direction and flew the airways the whole way, on the outbound. So the second go around I just filed direct and it worked. They even vectored me over restricted airspace.

 

[MrSkyKingRon]

Thanks for the heads-up on the AV-WEB article StarCheck1. I read some of the beginning and I printed it and will read it later and take it to heed. I'm sure it will make my life and their life easier.

 

[Ophir]

From the AvWeb article
[ QUOTE ]
(i) Plan the route of flight so as to avoid prohibited and restricted airspace by 3 NM unless permission has been obtained to operate in that airspace and the appropriate ATC facilities are advised.


[/ QUOTE ]

It was my understanding that once you have filed and you are cleared, then the controlling agency will be informed as to active MOAs, Restricted Areas, and Prohibited areas and vector you around them.

[ QUOTE ]
If you don't file in accordance with the AIM, whoever puts your flight plan in the National Airspace System computers has to find a way to "make it work." You, yourself, may not be including a Lat/Long in your flight plan. But if you don't file in accordance with the AIM -- if you don't include any waypoints, if you don't file at least one fix per Center, if you don't follow the system -- your flight plan will not be accepted by the computer. In order to get the computer to accept it -- to "make it work" -- the FSS specialist or DUATS is going to put a Lat/Long in it.


[/ QUOTE ]

So every flight that is filing direct is input into the system with Lat/Long? I can't seem to believe this. Why hasn't this come up before. I can't imagine how many flight plans are filed per day with direct, and they never say a thing.

[ QUOTE ]
Nothing would seem simpler than filing GSO (Greensboro, N.C.) direct FTY (Fulton County, Ga.) at 8,000. But no one ever said this was simple. Otherwise you wouldn't have to train to get an IFR ticket. You can file GSO direct FTY. But you aren't going to get it. What you will get is:


GSO..BZM.V222.LOGEN..FTY

[/ QUOTE ]

So what I am hearing is that if it is impossible to send you direct then you will get a different clearance. I am fine with that. The other examples he sites in his article really highlight the pilot who is careless in their filing a flight plan. I am sure this happens all the time with the new RNAV and GPS systems but I thinkt the moral of the story is "know you flight, where you going and how you are going to get there".

 

[stultus]

I was on a NW flight from MSP-LAX last week and one of the pilots announced shortly after takeoff that we would be getting in early since we were "cleared directly to LA". Never heard that before.

 

[xdashdriver]

The only time I've EVER had any problems with filing (and getting) direct is in the northeast corridor between DC and BOS. I've never heard one single complaint or even comment from any other controller about the issue. It sounds like it isn't such a big deal as the author of that article would make out.

9 times out of 10 even when I have been flying in the NE corridor, as soon as I get out of it, the controllers are more than happy to clear me direct to my destination, in fact some volunteer the clearance without me even having to ask.

Ray

 

[derg]

Sometimes when it's slow or you're on a low density route, they'll do stuff like that.

Like departing RNO late one night, we're just passing thru 15,000 feet in the climb, and Oakland clears us direct "To the DFW airport".

 

[turbojet28]

May seem like an ignorant question, but what exactly does "cleard direct" mean? I have heard it many, many times but never really went out and learned what it exactly meant. Is it something that is done for IFR only, or both IFR and VFR flights? Thanks.

-TJ28

 

[ready2fly]

Well, I was on an IFR flight plan on Sunday coming back from KCHA to KTLH. I had filed using the appropriate fixes, VORTACS and Victor airways.

About 45 minutes into my flight, ATC asked if I could fly "direct to TLH" and if so, to give them an on course heading.

I gave them the on-course heading that the LORAN in the Warrior gave me and I was "Cleared Direct to TLH" on that heading.

No more airways, fixes or VORTACS. Just fly to the airport.

Worked out just fine. Went directly to KTLH without a hitch.

 

[Tim]

I got cleared from Ocala Fl to 4A7(Tara Field) just south of KATL. And same controller got me clearance from 4A7 to KORL.

 

[Jason]

I was cleared direct from just outside BOS to SFO - around 2,200 nm I believe - of course it was the middle of the night and no one else except UPS and FedEx were flying. We got put on an arrival once we got closer to SFO but were 'direct' for about 2,000 miles.

Jason