Narrative:

Given clearance tsy ny center to fly heading 265 degrees expect air VORTAC in 40 mi. First officer was flying, he tuned in air to receive signal. I stayed on coyle VORTAC for orientation until we received air. The 265 degree heading is very close to direct air. When air was received first officer started to track direct air. I did not notice this. Controller queried us on our heading. I stated 270 degrees which what it was. The controller stated to maintain heading 265 degrees expect direct air. I think the way to prevent this is when given a heading by ATC with expect direct to turn OTS south to some unrelated course until cleared direct, especially when direct and the heading are close. We always wait to center the needle. No conflict with traffic or anything occurred. Just a good learning experience.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FO OF A DC9-30 FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE VECTOR HEADING GIVEN BY ATC RESULTING IN ATC INTERVENTION TO BRING RPTING CAPT'S ACFT BACK ON COURSE.

Narrative: GIVEN CLRNC TSY NY CTR TO FLY HDG 265 DEGS EXPECT AIR VORTAC IN 40 MI. FO WAS FLYING, HE TUNED IN AIR TO RECEIVE SIGNAL. I STAYED ON COYLE VORTAC FOR ORIENTATION UNTIL WE RECEIVED AIR. THE 265 DEG HDG IS VERY CLOSE TO DIRECT AIR. WHEN AIR WAS RECEIVED FO STARTED TO TRACK DIRECT AIR. I DID NOT NOTICE THIS. CTLR QUERIED US ON OUR HEADING. I STATED 270 DEGS WHICH WHAT IT WAS. THE CTLR STATED TO MAINTAIN HDG 265 DEGS EXPECT DIRECT AIR. I THINK THE WAY TO PREVENT THIS IS WHEN GIVEN A HEADING BY ATC WITH EXPECT DIRECT TO TURN OTS S TO SOME UNRELATED COURSE UNTIL CLRED DIRECT, ESPECIALLY WHEN DIRECT AND THE HEADING ARE CLOSE. WE ALWAYS WAIT TO CTR THE NEEDLE. NO CONFLICT WITH TFC OR ANYTHING OCCURRED. JUST A GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

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.