OnCourse Software

The SID is exactly like the rest of the route, it is pre-programmed in the FMC along with the rest of the route, so the pilot can even "forget" when the SID ends and the enroute track starts. If, like Dave says, the virtual pilot does not know where to go after the SID, it means that he has not pre-programmed the route correctly and should not be a virtual pilot... So the instruction "resume own navigation" is absolutely incorrect in this case, the "own navigation" is SID+route and there is nothing to resume! It is valid only AFTER ATC commands a deviation from "own navigation", therefore a vector or a direct-to a waypoint.

jgoggi wrote:

The SID is exactly like the rest of the route, it is pre-programmed in the FMC along with the rest of the route, so the pilot can even "forget" when the SID ends and the enroute track starts. If, like Dave says, the virtual pilot does not know where to go after the SID, it means that he has not pre-programmed the route correctly and should not be a virtual pilot... So the instruction "resume own navigation" is absolutely incorrect in this case, the "own navigation" is SID+route and there is nothing to resume! It is valid only AFTER ATC commands a deviation from "own navigation", therefore a vector or a direct-to a waypoint.

As far as I'm aware it doesn't matter what you key into your FMC you can't go anywhere without being cleared to do so by ATC... so, you are cleared to depart via departure xxx but that's all, you're are not cleared to fly the rest of your route by default!

I am not a real life pilot, nor ATC expert, all what I say is based only on 25 years of listening to ATC communications (both with my portable radio and during flights in cockpits), but Dave, let me disagree, otherwise you should hear, for each flight that contacts departure, a further clearance for when the SID is over. It's clearly not like this, most times the departure controller just clears for a higher level...

jgoggi wrote:

I am not a real life pilot, nor ATC expert, all what I say is based only on 25 years of listening to ATC communications (both with my portable radio and during flights in cockpits), but Dave, let me disagree, otherwise you should hear, for each flight that contacts departure, a further clearance for when the SID is over. It's clearly not like this, most times the departure controller just clears for a higher level...

The point is though that "Resume own navigation" is a valid instruction. And if given at the end of or at SID ceiling is clearly understood.