Narrative:

Night VFR arrival in svmi. At 15 NM north, we were given a radar vector of 250 degree for the VOR 09 approach. At approximately 10 NM northwest we were told to turn right to a heading of 210 degree. I requested confirmation of the direction by asking 'do you mean to turn right the long way to 210.' silence was the reply. I then asked again and the reply was 'turn to 210 degree.' no indication of the direction. We then stated that we were turning left to 210. After a short time, we were again directed to turn right, this time to 160 along with descend to 2000 ft and cleared for the VOR 09 approach. As we were now too close to shoot the VOR as published and did not have time to work out the direction of turn again, we requested a visual approach to runway 09. It was approved and we were handed to tower at approximately 5 NM. The landing was made without further problems. I often encounter similar problems in this region of the world. I am not sure that the controller ever really understood that he was telling us to turn the wrong way. Svmi has some high terrain very close to final. Callback conversation with reporter revealed he following information: reporter received a response from company that they initiated concerned coordination with foreign and domestic government officials.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLC CHALLENGE SVMI CTLR ABOUT VECTORS HDGS FOR APCH. PIC REQUESTS VISUAL WHEN HDG VERIFICATION ARE NOT CORRECTLY RESPONDED TOO.

Narrative: NIGHT VFR ARRIVAL IN SVMI. AT 15 NM N, WE WERE GIVEN A RADAR VECTOR OF 250 DEG FOR THE VOR 09 APCH. AT APPROX 10 NM NW WE WERE TOLD TO TURN R TO A HEADING OF 210 DEG. I REQUESTED CONFIRMATION OF THE DIRECTION BY ASKING 'DO YOU MEAN TO TURN R THE LONG WAY TO 210.' SILENCE WAS THE REPLY. I THEN ASKED AGAIN AND THE REPLY WAS 'TURN TO 210 DEG.' NO INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION. WE THEN STATED THAT WE WERE TURNING L TO 210. AFTER A SHORT TIME, WE WERE AGAIN DIRECTED TO TURN R, THIS TIME TO 160 ALONG WITH DESCEND TO 2000 FT AND CLRED FOR THE VOR 09 APCH. AS WE WERE NOW TOO CLOSE TO SHOOT THE VOR AS PUBLISHED AND DID NOT HAVE TIME TO WORK OUT THE DIRECTION OF TURN AGAIN, WE REQUESTED A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 09. IT WAS APPROVED AND WE WERE HANDED TO TWR AT APPROX 5 NM. THE LNDG WAS MADE WITHOUT FURTHER PROBS. I OFTEN ENCOUNTER SIMILAR PROBS IN THIS REGION OF THE WORLD. I AM NOT SURE THAT THE CTLR EVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT HE WAS TELLING US TO TURN THE WRONG WAY. SVMI HAS SOME HIGH TERRAIN VERY CLOSE TO FINAL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED HE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM COMPANY THAT THEY INITIATED CONCERNED COORD WITH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC GOV OFFICIALS.

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.