Narrative:

Clearance received for vandalia 1 arrival from ZKC. Stl landing 12L/right. After switching to stl approach control, flight was given heading of 290 degree for radar vector. (Captain flying aircraft). Heading was reconfirmed by first officer with stl approach controller and verified as the same, 290 degree. Aircraft turned to that heading. Several mins later, stl approach controller called and queried 'where are you going!' advised assigned heading 290 degree. A left turn to 240 degree was issued for vector to visual approach 12L. A phone number was requested to the approach control facility. A visual approach made to 29L. On landing, a phone call made to control facility and spoke with supervisor. He advised that no conflict or problem was apparent, but that the controller on duty 'assumed' the aircraft would be turned to the 290 degree heading at staan intersection. The clearance was understood and readback requested, that we were to start an immediate turn on the receipt of the new heading and taken off the arrival. The supervisor also indicated this is somewhat of a common occurrence, as the controllers 'assume' the turn to be made at staan intersection. Most other ATC facilities I'm familiar with will issue a clearance 'depart staan intersection heading....'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN LGT ACR CREW TURNED TO A HDG NOW INSTEAD OF AT THE STAAN FIX ON THE VANDALIA 1 STAR INTO STL. THE APCH CTLR DID NOT STATE THAT THE TURN WAS TO BE MADE AT STAAN.

Narrative: CLRNC RECEIVED FOR VANDALIA 1 ARR FROM ZKC. STL LNDG 12L/R. AFTER SWITCHING TO STL APCH CTL, FLT WAS GIVEN HDG OF 290 DEG FOR RADAR VECTOR. (CAPT FLYING ACFT). HDG WAS RECONFIRMED BY FO WITH STL APCH CTLR AND VERIFIED AS THE SAME, 290 DEG. ACFT TURNED TO THAT HDG. SEVERAL MINS LATER, STL APCH CTLR CALLED AND QUERIED 'WHERE ARE YOU GOING!' ADVISED ASSIGNED HDG 290 DEG. A L TURN TO 240 DEG WAS ISSUED FOR VECTOR TO VISUAL APCH 12L. A PHONE NUMBER WAS REQUESTED TO THE APCH CTL FACILITY. A VISUAL APCH MADE TO 29L. ON LNDG, A PHONE CALL MADE TO CTL FACILITY AND SPOKE WITH SUPVR. HE ADVISED THAT NO CONFLICT OR PROBLEM WAS APPARENT, BUT THAT THE CTLR ON DUTY 'ASSUMED' THE ACFT WOULD BE TURNED TO THE 290 DEG HDG AT STAAN INTXN. THE CLRNC WAS UNDERSTOOD AND READBACK REQUESTED, THAT WE WERE TO START AN IMMEDIATE TURN ON THE RECEIPT OF THE NEW HDG AND TAKEN OFF THE ARR. THE SUPVR ALSO INDICATED THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF A COMMON OCCURRENCE, AS THE CTLRS 'ASSUME' THE TURN TO BE MADE AT STAAN INTXN. MOST OTHER ATC FACILITIES I'M FAMILIAR WITH WILL ISSUE A CLRNC 'DEPART STAAN INTXN HDG....'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.