ARTCC radar controller placed flight 7 miles south of on course J158.

Attributes
ACN	128913
Time
Date	198911
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iad
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time total : 14000
ASRS Report	128913
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On departure from iad to pit. Aircraft was given 340 degree heading and then 360 heading. A frequency change was given. When the captain checked on the new frequency he indicated he would soon intercept J518 on the 360 degree heading. The controller said 'negative, maintain present heading, I show you seven mi south of course - this happens all the time'? The question I ask is why? Is there a problem with the airway or the way the airway is constructed? It seems that one of the major faults of the system is that while we are aware of problems no one is willing to report these problems or pursue remedies.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC RADAR CTLR PLACED FLT 7 MILES SOUTH OF ON COURSE J158.

Narrative: ON DEP FROM IAD TO PIT. ACFT WAS GIVEN 340 DEG HDG AND THEN 360 HDG. A FREQ CHANGE WAS GIVEN. WHEN THE CAPT CHECKED ON THE NEW FREQ HE INDICATED HE WOULD SOON INTERCEPT J518 ON THE 360 DEG HDG. THE CTLR SAID 'NEGATIVE, MAINTAIN PRESENT HDG, I SHOW YOU SEVEN MI S OF COURSE - THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME'? THE QUESTION I ASK IS WHY? IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRWAY OR THE WAY THE AIRWAY IS CONSTRUCTED? IT SEEMS THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR FAULTS OF THE SYSTEM IS THAT WHILE WE ARE AWARE OF PROBLEMS NO ONE IS WILLING TO REPORT THESE PROBLEMS OR PURSUE REMEDIES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.