Narrative:

Inbound to the rsw VOR we were advised that a thunderstorm was over our destination airport of naples. We had previously asked to be given holding instructions as early as possible if a delay was expected. When we were finally given holding instructions to hold on the rsw 270 degree 35 mi I began to plot the holding fix on the chart in order to give the PF navigation instructions. I was surprised to find the fix almost behind our present position and I took control of the aircraft so that the other crewmember could verify my conclusions. We were still headed southeast towards the VOR and ZMA asked if we were proceeding to the holding fix. I asked controller if he wanted a course reversal now and he replied in the affirmative. Still flying the aircraft I turned the aircraft around approximately 120 degrees from our heading to intercept the rsw 270 degrees. I had originally thought that center wanted us to cross rsw and get to the fix on the rsw 270 degree radial, as he did not give us an intercept heading and we were not RNAV equipped. I really don't believe that there was an undue delay because it does take some time to navigate to an off airway fix with basic navigation equipment. It is possible that it took us more time than he was accustomed to because this was a new route for both crewmembers and we wanted to be in agreement before changing the status quo. The airline is also using smaller equipment on this route and perhaps he mistakenly believed us to be RNAV equipped and thus able to proceed immediately to the fix with little navigational effort.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HDG TRACK DEV AS CLRNC INTERP MUDDIES THE WATER. FLC TECHNIQUE NAV.

Narrative: INBOUND TO THE RSW VOR WE WERE ADVISED THAT A TSTM WAS OVER OUR DEST ARPT OF NAPLES. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY ASKED TO BE GIVEN HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE IF A DELAY WAS EXPECTED. WHEN WE WERE FINALLY GIVEN HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS TO HOLD ON THE RSW 270 DEG 35 MI I BEGAN TO PLOT THE HOLDING FIX ON THE CHART IN ORDER TO GIVE THE PF NAV INSTRUCTIONS. I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THE FIX ALMOST BEHIND OUR PRESENT POS AND I TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT SO THAT THE OTHER CREWMEMBER COULD VERIFY MY CONCLUSIONS. WE WERE STILL HEADED SE TOWARDS THE VOR AND ZMA ASKED IF WE WERE PROCEEDING TO THE HOLDING FIX. I ASKED CTLR IF HE WANTED A COURSE REVERSAL NOW AND HE REPLIED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. STILL FLYING THE ACFT I TURNED THE ACFT AROUND APPROX 120 DEGS FROM OUR HDG TO INTERCEPT THE RSW 270 DEGS. I HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT CTR WANTED US TO CROSS RSW AND GET TO THE FIX ON THE RSW 270 DEG RADIAL, AS HE DID NOT GIVE US AN INTERCEPT HDG AND WE WERE NOT RNAV EQUIPPED. I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS AN UNDUE DELAY BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE SOME TIME TO NAVIGATE TO AN OFF AIRWAY FIX WITH BASIC NAV EQUIP. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IT TOOK US MORE TIME THAN HE WAS ACCUSTOMED TO BECAUSE THIS WAS A NEW RTE FOR BOTH CREWMEMBERS AND WE WANTED TO BE IN AGREEMENT BEFORE CHANGING THE STATUS QUO. THE AIRLINE IS ALSO USING SMALLER EQUIP ON THIS RTE AND PERHAPS HE MISTAKENLY BELIEVED US TO BE RNAV EQUIPPED AND THUS ABLE TO PROCEED IMMEDIATELY TO THE FIX WITH LITTLE NAVIGATIONAL EFFORT.

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.