ATC issues a convoluted routing to get traffic from lan to polar intersection.

Attributes
ACN	141972
Time
Date	199004
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mbs airport : dtw airport : lan
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : dtw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12500 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	141972
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

My routing from lan to dtw was lan V84 dxo 342 degree right polar dtw. This is a new routing from the detroit airspace restructuring last november. The problem is polar intersection is not charted off the dxo VOR. It is shown off mbs with DME and a cross bearing off lan on V133 off svm. Although I realize this routing goes over polar you would have to use at least one VOR/DME to define polar beside the one you're using to navigate. If you didn't have DME you would have to use 2 vors to define polar and abandon your navigation off dxo. This is a poor setup at best and I question the legality of the clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC ISSUES A CONVOLUTED ROUTING TO GET TRAFFIC FROM LAN TO POLAR INTERSECTION.

Narrative: MY ROUTING FROM LAN TO DTW WAS LAN V84 DXO 342 DEG R POLAR DTW. THIS IS A NEW ROUTING FROM THE DETROIT AIRSPACE RESTRUCTURING LAST NOVEMBER. THE PROBLEM IS POLAR INTXN IS NOT CHARTED OFF THE DXO VOR. IT IS SHOWN OFF MBS WITH DME AND A CROSS BEARING OFF LAN ON V133 OFF SVM. ALTHOUGH I REALIZE THIS ROUTING GOES OVER POLAR YOU WOULD HAVE TO USE AT LEAST ONE VOR/DME TO DEFINE POLAR BESIDE THE ONE YOU'RE USING TO NAVIGATE. IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE DME YOU WOULD HAVE TO USE 2 VORS TO DEFINE POLAR AND ABANDON YOUR NAVIGATION OFF DXO. THIS IS A POOR SETUP AT BEST AND I QUESTION THE LEGALITY OF THE CLRNC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.