GA flight engaged in instrument training experiences a track deviation.

Attributes
ACN	461340
Time
Date	200001
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : vrb.vortac
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	461340
Person 2
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

On this training flight, we had filed to fpr but upon getting ATIS, we discovered we would not be able to get the ILS and we were not equipped to do the NDB approach. So I asked the controller to change the clearance to local vrb and shoot the VOR/DME runway 29L approach, the active one at the time. The controller agreed to the request then asked if we would like vectors or the full approach. I responded by saying 'vectors.' he said 'roger, proceed to the vrb VOR then track outbound on the 115 degree radial, maintain 3000 ft until zagga. I proceeded to follow those instructions then by the time I was about 1 mi east of zagga, I began to become concerned about the controller's lack of communication with me. I heard a call sign that sounded close to mine and asked the controller if those instructions were for me. He didn't say 'yes or no' -- just that I was 11 mi from vrb and I should 'hurry up and turn around because I was messing up his traffic.' (note: the controller was very irritated due to the high volume of traffic he was dealing with and it was very difficult to get a word in edgewise with him.) my student then proceeded to make a right 360 degree turn. The thought went through my mind at that point that it would have been better to make a left 360 degree to stay on the holding side of the course, but I didn't stop him because I felt we were doing a radar vectored approach anyway and I didn't want to further irritate the controller by turning one way then turning the other. After a few mins, the controller came on frequency and scolded me for making a right turn. Since my instructions were to 'turn around,' without being given a direction, I later explained that I thought I was doing radar vector approach, not pilot navigation. After all, that's what I had asked for and thought he had agreed to, as well. He came back on frequency and said he didn't want to argue about it, that there was no excuse for making a turn on the non-holding side.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA FLT ENGAGED IN INST TRAINING EXPERIENCES A TRACK DEV.

Narrative: ON THIS TRAINING FLT, WE HAD FILED TO FPR BUT UPON GETTING ATIS, WE DISCOVERED WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE ILS AND WE WERE NOT EQUIPPED TO DO THE NDB APCH. SO I ASKED THE CTLR TO CHANGE THE CLRNC TO LCL VRB AND SHOOT THE VOR/DME RWY 29L APCH, THE ACTIVE ONE AT THE TIME. THE CTLR AGREED TO THE REQUEST THEN ASKED IF WE WOULD LIKE VECTORS OR THE FULL APCH. I RESPONDED BY SAYING 'VECTORS.' HE SAID 'ROGER, PROCEED TO THE VRB VOR THEN TRACK OUTBOUND ON THE 115 DEG RADIAL, MAINTAIN 3000 FT UNTIL ZAGGA. I PROCEEDED TO FOLLOW THOSE INSTRUCTIONS THEN BY THE TIME I WAS ABOUT 1 MI E OF ZAGGA, I BEGAN TO BECOME CONCERNED ABOUT THE CTLR'S LACK OF COM WITH ME. I HEARD A CALL SIGN THAT SOUNDED CLOSE TO MINE AND ASKED THE CTLR IF THOSE INSTRUCTIONS WERE FOR ME. HE DIDN'T SAY 'YES OR NO' -- JUST THAT I WAS 11 MI FROM VRB AND I SHOULD 'HURRY UP AND TURN AROUND BECAUSE I WAS MESSING UP HIS TFC.' (NOTE: THE CTLR WAS VERY IRRITATED DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF TFC HE WAS DEALING WITH AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET A WORD IN EDGEWISE WITH HIM.) MY STUDENT THEN PROCEEDED TO MAKE A R 360 DEG TURN. THE THOUGHT WENT THROUGH MY MIND AT THAT POINT THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER TO MAKE A L 360 DEG TO STAY ON THE HOLDING SIDE OF THE COURSE, BUT I DIDN'T STOP HIM BECAUSE I FELT WE WERE DOING A RADAR VECTORED APCH ANYWAY AND I DIDN'T WANT TO FURTHER IRRITATE THE CTLR BY TURNING ONE WAY THEN TURNING THE OTHER. AFTER A FEW MINS, THE CTLR CAME ON FREQ AND SCOLDED ME FOR MAKING A R TURN. SINCE MY INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO 'TURN AROUND,' WITHOUT BEING GIVEN A DIRECTION, I LATER EXPLAINED THAT I THOUGHT I WAS DOING RADAR VECTOR APCH, NOT PLT NAV. AFTER ALL, THAT'S WHAT I HAD ASKED FOR AND THOUGHT HE HAD AGREED TO, AS WELL. HE CAME BACK ON FREQ AND SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO ARGUE ABOUT IT, THAT THERE WAS NO EXCUSE FOR MAKING A TURN ON THE NON-HOLDING SIDE.

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.