MD80 flight crew concerned with clearance.

Attributes
ACN	557566
Time
Date	200208
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : arg.vortac
State Reference	AR
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	557566
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	557565
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

45 mi east walnut ridge VOR. Prior to stl our flight was cleared direct fam direct fsm. Shortly thereafter, we requested and received direct fsm. The next controller instructed us to turn 20 degrees left. We were still on an assigned heading when the controller asked us to verify our route. I told him we had been cleared direct fam, direct fsm, and reclred direct fsm. I then informed him that we were on an assigned heading of 195 degrees. He said we would be vectored to join the arrival. We again said we had been given the heading off course. He said no problem, the new route would work out fine. In the future, when handed off, I will state if on assigned heading, or at least query it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLC CONCERNED WITH CLRNC.

Narrative: 45 MI E WALNUT RIDGE VOR. PRIOR TO STL OUR FLT WAS CLRED DIRECT FAM DIRECT FSM. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED DIRECT FSM. THE NEXT CTLR INSTRUCTED US TO TURN 20 DEGS L. WE WERE STILL ON AN ASSIGNED HDG WHEN THE CTLR ASKED US TO VERIFY OUR RTE. I TOLD HIM WE HAD BEEN CLRED DIRECT FAM, DIRECT FSM, AND RECLRED DIRECT FSM. I THEN INFORMED HIM THAT WE WERE ON AN ASSIGNED HDG OF 195 DEGS. HE SAID WE WOULD BE VECTORED TO JOIN THE ARR. WE AGAIN SAID WE HAD BEEN GIVEN THE HDG OFF COURSE. HE SAID NO PROB, THE NEW RTE WOULD WORK OUT FINE. IN THE FUTURE, WHEN HANDED OFF, I WILL STATE IF ON ASSIGNED HDG, OR AT LEAST QUERY IT.

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.