Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

2 Answers

Turning to outbound when flying direct to VOR IAF on inbound heading

Asked by: 3197 views Airspace, FAA Regulations, Instrument Rating

Is there a regulation for which way to turn to track the outbound course if you are flying direct to the VOR IAF from practically an inbound course heading? I recently got vectors that almost aligned with the inbound course before ATC let me loose for the full VOR APR. Once I hit the VOR, I turned toward the side with the PT and flew a heading to track the outbound course. What would have been the right way to turn outbound? Thank you.

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

2 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Mar 21, 2015

    Drew,

    If you are cleared direct to the VOR on a random route, I would expect a turn in the shortest direction to intercept the outbound heading. If you are essentially on the inbound course, then I would favor to turn to the same side as the PT is depicted on. ATC is not permitted to clear you straight- in for an approach when the IAF is also a FAF and the PT is to be expected.

    There are other limitations not directly included in your question where you see a note that indicates that a straight in is required for arriving on airways between two radials or that a procedure is not authorized between two radials along airways. These are not sector notes and when they include the word “airway” it only applies to airways, not random routes.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  2. Drew on Mar 21, 2015

    Thank you, John.

    I did end up verifying that she wanted me to proceed direct to the VOR and proceed outbound, but I never experienced doing such a big turn to get on the outbound before (usually it’s within 90 deg).

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.