Narrative:

On a trip to ptk I was cleared to fly the SPRTN3 arrival off of lan VOR. Upon reaching parky intersection approach states 'expect radar vectors.' absent a vector; upon reaching parky I turned to my next flight planned fix which was ptk. Shortly thereafter the approach controller asked who had cleared me to fly that direction instead of a 160 degree heading. He then instructed me to turn to a 180 degree heading. I made the turn to 180 degrees and informed the controller that since I was not issued a vector I was proceeding as filed. The controller requested that I call the facility when I landed. I did as requested and was told that if I was not issued a vector prior to reaching the fix that I should ask the controller what they want me to do next. There is nothing on the published arrival procedure; or anywhere else that I can recall that describes a specific procedure to follow in such a situation. I was following the only procedure I am aware of when no clear course of action is apparent which is follow the clearance; flight plan or expected route given by ATC. I think it would be helpful if a procedure was developed to follow in such an instance to avoid further confusion.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A P180 PLT AT A CLRNC LIMIT ON AN ARR TURNED TOWARD HIS NEXT FLT PLAN FIX. ATC NOTED THAT A HDG SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED AT THE CLRNC LIMIT.

Narrative: ON A TRIP TO PTK I WAS CLRED TO FLY THE SPRTN3 ARR OFF OF LAN VOR. UPON REACHING PARKY INTXN APCH STATES 'EXPECT RADAR VECTORS.' ABSENT A VECTOR; UPON REACHING PARKY I TURNED TO MY NEXT FLT PLANNED FIX WHICH WAS PTK. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE APCH CTLR ASKED WHO HAD CLRED ME TO FLY THAT DIRECTION INSTEAD OF A 160 DEG HDG. HE THEN INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN TO A 180 DEG HDG. I MADE THE TURN TO 180 DEGS AND INFORMED THE CTLR THAT SINCE I WAS NOT ISSUED A VECTOR I WAS PROCEEDING AS FILED. THE CTLR REQUESTED THAT I CALL THE FACILITY WHEN I LANDED. I DID AS REQUESTED AND WAS TOLD THAT IF I WAS NOT ISSUED A VECTOR PRIOR TO REACHING THE FIX THAT I SHOULD ASK THE CTLR WHAT THEY WANT ME TO DO NEXT. THERE IS NOTHING ON THE PUBLISHED ARR PROC; OR ANYWHERE ELSE THAT I CAN RECALL THAT DESCRIBES A SPECIFIC PROC TO FOLLOW IN SUCH A SITUATION. I WAS FOLLOWING THE ONLY PROC I AM AWARE OF WHEN NO CLR COURSE OF ACTION IS APPARENT WHICH IS FOLLOW THE CLRNC; FLT PLAN OR EXPECTED RTE GIVEN BY ATC. I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF A PROC WAS DEVELOPED TO FOLLOW IN SUCH AN INSTANCE TO AVOID FURTHER CONFUSION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.