PilotEdge Forums

So I attempted the I-3 rating last night, and almost immediately ran into trouble. I was instructed to fly 220 upon departure which I threw in the heading bug. A bit after takeoff I was instructed to fly 270 and join the SLI 125 radial. The problem I had here is, HOW was I supposed to do that. My position at the time would be like a 180 radial TO SLI. I started to turn back to try and get oriented to fly in on the 125 but I was questioned from ATC at which point I gave up because I had no idea what I was supposed to do. I feel like the instruction meant for me to fly 270 until I intercepted the 125, but I don't think that was possible. Am I permitted to turn or do whatever I need to do to get established here? Did I do something else wrong?

If you believe that the heading issued by ATC would not have let you intercept the radial, you can ask the controller to verify the heading.

SNA is NE of the 125 radial, so, assuming ATC issued the heading prior to you flying through the radial after takeoff, then the 270 heading should've been fine.

Are you sure they didn't ask you to join the SMO125 radial? That is part of the TEC route from KSNA to KBUR.

Are you N14BY? http://assets.pilotedge.net/recordings/ ... _17510.mp3

The call sign I was using was N374SA. And no, it wasn't SMO. I had just taken off, and was approximately 6 miles north of SLI. Approximately where the star is...

msmith3972 wrote:The call sign I was using was N374SA. And no, it wasn't SMO. I had just taken off, and was approximately 6 miles north of SLI. Approximately where the star is...

Do you mean 6 miles "south" of SLI? I'm pretty sure they meant and intended that you join the SMO125, but may have said Seal Beach 125 radial instead by accident. What time did you fly? I'd love to hear the recording.

You may be right, that makes sense I suppose. Although my clearance was vectors SLI V23 POPPR then as filed, so I was expecting the 125 radial out of SLI. Could be that I heard what I was expecting! I flew around 430 PST.

Yep, "N374SA turn right heading 270 and join the Santa Monica 125 radial." At 11:40 minutes . . . and repeated again at 11:55 . . . http://assets.pilotedge.net/recordings/ ... _17510.mp3

As you said, you must have heard what you were expecting . . . It's easy to do. From the recordings, that other pilot, N14BY, did the exact same thing the same evening on the I-3. As I'm sure you know, the clearance route or altitude to SLI can be overridden at any time by the controller for shortcuts or traffic.

That is the best thing about using pilotedge, you have to keep the brain engaged and actually FLY. I think I will be much further ahead when I start my instrument training. Thanks!