B737-800 captain being cleared direct to odery on the RNAV runway 24 at rsw; but believing the clear...

Narrative:

During our approach in to rsw we were being vectored by ATC for weather avoidance. We began our vectors for runway 24 RNAV approach once we were clear of the weather. ATC gave us a clearance to proceed direct to odery the IAF for RNAV runway 24. We mistook that for rodde an if on that same approach. To us it sounded like rodde and standard entry and verification procedures were followed. ATC recognized that our track was off very quickly and provided vectors to the final approach course. A normal approach and landing followed.I felt it would have been very helpful if the controller had indicated that the fix was an IAF. In addition it also would have been helpful to have the fix spelled to us. I heard the controller do that for the aircraft behind us and it went better for them. It would be helpful for ATC to keep in mind that we don't go to some of these smaller airports on a regular basis like we do our hubs were we know every approach and most of the fixes by heart.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 Captain being cleared direct to ODERY on the RNAV Runway 24 at RSW; but believing the clearance is direct RODDE on the same approach. ATC detects the error and issues a vector.

Narrative: During our approach in to RSW we were being vectored by ATC for weather avoidance. We began our vectors for Runway 24 RNAV approach once we were clear of the weather. ATC gave us a clearance to proceed direct to ODERY the IAF for RNAV RWY 24. We mistook that for RODDE an IF on that same approach. To us it sounded like RODDE and standard entry and verification procedures were followed. ATC recognized that our track was off very quickly and provided vectors to the final approach course. A normal approach and landing followed.I felt it would have been very helpful if the controller had indicated that the fix was an IAF. In addition it also would have been helpful to have the fix spelled to us. I heard the controller do that for the aircraft behind us and it went better for them. It would be helpful for ATC to keep in mind that we don't go to some of these smaller airports on a regular basis like we do our hubs were we know every approach and most of the fixes by heart.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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	1281814
Time
Date	201507
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	RSW.TRACON
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Total 17000
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

B737-800 captain being cleared direct to odery on the RNAV runway 24 at rsw; but believing the clearance is direct rodde on the same approach. ATC detects the error and issues a vector.