MD88 flight crew issued numerous heading changes during cruise.

Attributes
ACN	554764
Time
Date	200207
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cmh.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 7500
ASRS Report	554764
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

While in cruise at FL330, ZID controller gave us instructions to turn right 15 degrees for traffic. We were on this vector for approximately 2 mins when we were given instructions to proceed direct to ewc. Shortly after proceeding direct, we were given instructions to turn left 15 degrees for traffic. We complied and then received instructions to quickly turn right to heading 140 degrees (approximately 100 degree heading change) with no explanation. No aircraft appeared on TCASII and we received no TCASII warning. While in the turn to heading 140 degrees, controller asked us to increase turn rate and we complied. When we queried controller as to what was going on, she provided no explanation and seemed to be a bit flustered. After flying heading 140 degrees we were again cleared direct to ewc and asked to switch to next controller and told 'thanks for your help.' we queried next controller about what had happened. However, she said she was too busy to see and didn't know anything. Both I and first officer verified instructions from ATC and at no time were we in disagreement about controller-issued instructions. We both felt controller either failed to get handoff to next center controller and/or had near loss of separation. However, we never saw another aircraft in close proximity to our aircraft, nor were we were issued a TA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 FLC ISSUED NUMEROUS HDG CHANGES DURING CRUISE.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE AT FL330, ZID CTLR GAVE US INSTRUCTIONS TO TURN R 15 DEGS FOR TFC. WE WERE ON THIS VECTOR FOR APPROX 2 MINS WHEN WE WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO PROCEED DIRECT TO EWC. SHORTLY AFTER PROCEEDING DIRECT, WE WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO TURN L 15 DEGS FOR TFC. WE COMPLIED AND THEN RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO QUICKLY TURN R TO HDG 140 DEGS (APPROX 100 DEG HDG CHANGE) WITH NO EXPLANATION. NO ACFT APPEARED ON TCASII AND WE RECEIVED NO TCASII WARNING. WHILE IN THE TURN TO HDG 140 DEGS, CTLR ASKED US TO INCREASE TURN RATE AND WE COMPLIED. WHEN WE QUERIED CTLR AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON, SHE PROVIDED NO EXPLANATION AND SEEMED TO BE A BIT FLUSTERED. AFTER FLYING HDG 140 DEGS WE WERE AGAIN CLRED DIRECT TO EWC AND ASKED TO SWITCH TO NEXT CTLR AND TOLD 'THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.' WE QUERIED NEXT CTLR ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. HOWEVER, SHE SAID SHE WAS TOO BUSY TO SEE AND DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING. BOTH I AND FO VERIFIED INSTRUCTIONS FROM ATC AND AT NO TIME WERE WE IN DISAGREEMENT ABOUT CTLR-ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS. WE BOTH FELT CTLR EITHER FAILED TO GET HDOF TO NEXT CTR CTLR AND/OR HAD NEAR LOSS OF SEPARATION. HOWEVER, WE NEVER SAW ANOTHER ACFT IN CLOSE PROX TO OUR ACFT, NOR WERE WE WERE ISSUED A TA.

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.