OnCourse Software

On a VFR flight Departure approved me a frequency change to Approach. There was no handoff to Center, probably because my cruising altitude was below the Center altitude. But that is another topic (viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2261) I don't want to discuss again here.
I did not yet check in with Approach to avoid being handed off back to Center on so on. Even though I was told to turn to a certain heading. I didn't comply because I was in uncontrolled airspace flying VFR (I know I should always comply to ATC, but what if there would have been a mountain in that direction?). Though I had set the "ATC heading nag" to 0, I was nagged repeatedly to turn. Later I checked in with Approach when I got closer. More nagging because of the heading. Finally I was told to report airport in sight, what I did. The rest was flawless.

So two issues here:

1. As far as I know I should not be vectored when flying VFR in uncontrolled airspace (maybe unless to avoid traffic, that wasn't the case here). I guess PF3 gave me the direct course to my destination or next waypoint. But often enough I don't want to fly a direct course when flying VFR. I might have to follow the terrain and a direct course might be impossible due to clouds / terrain. Is it possible to stop PF3 from giving me vectors when flying VFR in uncontrolled airspace? And if not: Could the phrase be changed from "turn to heading ..." to "the Airport/next waypoint is at ..."?

2. I was repeatedly nagged even though I had set "ATC heading nag" to 0.

Thanks for looking at this.

Ralf

Setting ATC Hdg Nag does not disable it, but enables immediate nagging.
I don't know why ATC tried to vector you, but if they do, you have to comply.

You could set ATC Hdg Nag to a really high value, but in the end you have to comply anyway, because otherwise PF3 might not continue processing the next step.

Ok, I thought setting it to 0 would turn it off. But I was nagged only every one or two minutes nevertheless.

Something strange happened on the return flight. Right after takeoff I was told again to turn to the same heading I was told to turn to on the previous flight. Made no sense this time, totally wrong direction. And this time I actually was nagged every second. I finally made a 360 and it stopped.

Maybe this is connected to this topic concerning problems with Turnaround flights?

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2284

It seems PF3 remembers things from previous flights, it shouldn't. I did not close PF3 before the return flight.


And as I said, I am aware that I should comply to ATC. But there should be the chance for a reply like "unable due to terrain". Or to completely turn of the vectoring when flying VFR in uncontrolled airspace.

Yes, that could be the problem.

Dave, can you verify?

Yu shouldn't be getting vectors on VFR flight like this... I will look into it for the next release

Thanks!