Narrative:

I received from ATC an IFR clearance at hzl airport, PA, that was direct hzl VOR, direct rager intersection, V58 deede intersection, V44, deer park, direct frg which is republic airport in new york on long island. When turning to intercept the outbound radial of 212 degrees off bdr VOR (bdr 108.8) the ATC controller told me that I cut the corner short and that a lot of people make that mistake. I looked at my chart again and the airway that you would think is V44, that goes towards deer park VOR (dpk 117.7) from bridgeport doesn't have any victor designation. This gets confusing because V44 actually goes in the opposite direction, southeast on the 145 degree radial for a short distance and then doglegs back to deer park VOR. This is a trap and I can understand why others have made this mistake. That airway should have a victor designation like every other airway so it is easily discernible, because what you would think is the obvious way to go is not. If it had a victor designation, pilots would not be making that mistake. I suggested to turn back towards V44, but the ATC controller told me to continue direct to deer park. Recommendation/corrective action: the airway with the 212 degree radial off bdr VOR that goes towards dpk VOR should be designated with an airway number like every other airway. This certainly will make it much more discernible as to what airway it is for pilots who navigation that route to republic airport, farmingdale, ny. ATC acknowledged that it is a problem and something needs to be changed to minimize problems with that route. Putting an airway number on the route certainly will make a difference.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE58 PLT VIOLATED HIS CLRNC BY DEPARTING THE BDR VOR ON THE WRONG VICTOR AIRWAY.

Narrative: I RECEIVED FROM ATC AN IFR CLRNC AT HZL ARPT, PA, THAT WAS DIRECT HZL VOR, DIRECT RAGER INTXN, V58 DEEDE INTXN, V44, DEER PARK, DIRECT FRG WHICH IS REPUBLIC ARPT IN NEW YORK ON LONG ISLAND. WHEN TURNING TO INTERCEPT THE OUTBOUND RADIAL OF 212 DEGS OFF BDR VOR (BDR 108.8) THE ATC CTLR TOLD ME THAT I CUT THE CORNER SHORT AND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE THAT MISTAKE. I LOOKED AT MY CHART AGAIN AND THE AIRWAY THAT YOU WOULD THINK IS V44, THAT GOES TOWARDS DEER PARK VOR (DPK 117.7) FROM BRIDGEPORT DOESN'T HAVE ANY VICTOR DESIGNATION. THIS GETS CONFUSING BECAUSE V44 ACTUALLY GOES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, SE ON THE 145 DEG RADIAL FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AND THEN DOGLEGS BACK TO DEER PARK VOR. THIS IS A TRAP AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY OTHERS HAVE MADE THIS MISTAKE. THAT AIRWAY SHOULD HAVE A VICTOR DESIGNATION LIKE EVERY OTHER AIRWAY SO IT IS EASILY DISCERNIBLE, BECAUSE WHAT YOU WOULD THINK IS THE OBVIOUS WAY TO GO IS NOT. IF IT HAD A VICTOR DESIGNATION, PLTS WOULD NOT BE MAKING THAT MISTAKE. I SUGGESTED TO TURN BACK TOWARDS V44, BUT THE ATC CTLR TOLD ME TO CONTINUE DIRECT TO DEER PARK. RECOMMENDATION/CORRECTIVE ACTION: THE AIRWAY WITH THE 212 DEG RADIAL OFF BDR VOR THAT GOES TOWARDS DPK VOR SHOULD BE DESIGNATED WITH AN AIRWAY NUMBER LIKE EVERY OTHER AIRWAY. THIS CERTAINLY WILL MAKE IT MUCH MORE DISCERNIBLE AS TO WHAT AIRWAY IT IS FOR PLTS WHO NAV THAT RTE TO REPUBLIC ARPT, FARMINGDALE, NY. ATC ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT IS A PROB AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO MINIMIZE PROBS WITH THAT RTE. PUTTING AN AIRWAY NUMBER ON THE RTE CERTAINLY WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

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.