CE560XL flight crew departing gjt is cleared direct jnc V8 truel which requires a 180 degree course ...

Narrative:

We departed runway 29 on a 270 heading; our clearance was jnc V8 truel. Departure cleared us direct jnc on course. We were on the inbound radial to the VOR requiring a 180 degree turn to go on course. I had the VOR on my side. The pilot flying was using the FMS. When the FMS commanded a left turn I noticed we were still a couple miles from the VOR. I figured with the altitude and the turn we would be pretty close to the VOR. About half way through the turn the controller said; 'I see your turning.' I said; 'we had been to the VOR and were heading outbound.' she didn't say anything else; but from the way she said it; it made me think she thought we were to fly past the VOR before turning.this is an unusual situation. Many times I have been given a clearance direct to a fix or VOR and then on course; sometimes requiring a 30 or 40 degree change. In theses cases we do not fly over or past the fix; but turn to intercept the course outbound. I may be making more of this than is needed; but when a 180 change is needed I'm not sure of the correct answer.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CE560XL flight crew departing GJT is cleared direct JNC V8 TRUEL which requires a 180 degree course reversal at JNC. The FMC accomplishes this reversal well before reaching JNC prompting a query from the Controller.

Narrative: We departed Runway 29 on a 270 heading; our clearance was JNC V8 TRUEL. Departure cleared us direct JNC on course. We were on the inbound radial to the VOR requiring a 180 degree turn to go on course. I had the VOR on my side. The Pilot Flying was using the FMS. When the FMS commanded a left turn I noticed we were still a couple miles from the VOR. I figured with the altitude and the turn we would be pretty close to the VOR. About half way through the turn the Controller said; 'I see your turning.' I said; 'we had been to the VOR and were heading outbound.' She didn't say anything else; but from the way she said it; it made me think she thought we were to fly past the VOR before turning.This is an unusual situation. Many times I have been given a clearance direct to a fix or VOR and then on course; sometimes requiring a 30 or 40 degree change. In theses cases we do not fly over or past the fix; but turn to intercept the course outbound. I may be making more of this than is needed; but when a 180 change is needed I'm not sure of the correct answer.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	874488
Time
Date	201002
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	GJT.Airport
State Reference	CO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Citation Excel (C560XL)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	SID ROCKIE7
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	FMS/FMC
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

CE560XL flight crew departing gjt is cleared direct jnc V8 truel which requires a 180 degree course reversal at jnc. The FMC accomplishes this reversal well before reaching jnc prompting a query from the controller.