Off Route and Outside of the Service Volume

[Bascuela]

Situation:
/A equipped aircraft changes IFR destination where the VOR is located on field. ATC assigns vector and says “when able proceed direct to ABC.” Pilot tunes and identifies the ABC VOR and gets positive course guidance then goes direct and notifies ATC. Pilot then realizes that he is 30 from the service volume of the VOR.

Question:
Was the pilot LEGAL in resuming own navigation or should the pilot have maintained the ATC vector until within the VOR service volume? (Off published route)

[tgrayson]

Originally Posted by Bascuela

Situation:Was the pilot LEGAL in resuming own navigation or should the pilot have maintained the ATC vector until within the VOR service volume? (Off published route)

I'm not aware of any regulation that says you have to be within the service volume of a VOR to use it for navigation. The only restriction I know of in the AIM says that direct routes outside the service volume of the navaids will not be approved by ATC.

ATC, however, is supposed to keep you on a vector until you are within the service volume, as I read the 7110.65:


5−6−2. METHODS

e. Provide radar navigational guidance until the aircraft is:

1. Established within the airspace to be protected for the nonradar route to be flown, or

2. On a heading that will, within a reasonable distance, intercept the nonradar route to be flown, and

3. Informed of its position unless the aircraft is RNAV, FMS, or DME equipped and being vectored toward a VORTAC/TACAN or waypoint and within the service volume of the NAVAID.

PHRASEOLOGY

(Position with respect to course/fix along route),

RESUME OWN NAVIGATION,

or

FLY HEADING (degrees). WHEN ABLE, PROCEED

DIRECT (name of fix),

[Bascuela]

From an ATC standpoint it is less work for them once the pilot resumes own nav. However this question is answered, the pilot should of maintained that vector until within the service volume. -Thanks.

[Flysher]

if your approved for class 1 navigation and your within radar contact or the service volume of a navaid you can legally go direct by any means necessary including dead reckoning...