Narrative:

Our original flight plan was filed as kzzz..orl..lbv..krsw. Our clearance was radar vectors lamma direct bitho direct. As we taxied out ATC wanted to clarify our route; lamma bitho direct; which we confirmed. As we approached the end and called ready we received a new clearance; runway heading expect radar vectors rsw. In the air and switched to ZMA we were given a 140 heading. After flying the wrong direction I queried ATC on how long on this heading; he responded; 'I don't know why they sent you this way?' after that we received a 180 heading; then the controller cleared us direct mommo. We were switched to ft. Myers and as we were crossing mommo the aircraft had just started to turn towards rsw VOR; when the controller asked if we were on the shifty arrival. We answered that we were not cleared an arrival. The controller responded ok; turn to a 240 heading. A few moments later the controller came on and said no fault of yours we are just trying to get this straight; what was your clearance; which we explained as direct mommo. He said contact fort myers; the flight continued to the airport with no more comments. After being on the ground; ft myers called me and asked me to contact miami center. I called and he asked me about the flight and clearance. I explained as above the numerous changes. He stated that he listened to the tapes and said everything you said is correct; you were not cleared via the arrival even thought the controller had put it on the strip. His only concern for me was why I did not query the point after mommo. He then went on to say; 'let me think about this and whether or not to file a pilot deviation.' I explained that I would need to file a report and would like to know. I told him that I thought it was unfair considering that his controller put the arrival on the strip and never cleared this way. Suggestions; I have encountered numerous complaints to the SHIFTY1 and think that is needing a overhaul.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Fractional Jet departure described confused routing clearance to RSW; later to discover ATC was considering a pilot deviation; reporter claiming ATC erred in the routing and that the subject routing was problematic.

Narrative: Our original flight plan was filed as KZZZ..ORL..LBV..KRSW. Our clearance was Radar Vectors LAMMA Direct BITHO direct. As we taxied out ATC wanted to clarify our route; LAMMA BITHO direct; which we confirmed. As we approached the end and called ready we received a new clearance; runway heading expect Radar Vectors RSW. In the air and switched to ZMA we were given a 140 heading. After flying the wrong direction I queried ATC on how long on this heading; he responded; 'I don't know why they sent you this way?' after that we received a 180 heading; then the Controller cleared us direct MOMMO. We were switched to Ft. Myers and as we were crossing MOMMO the aircraft had just started to turn towards RSW VOR; when the Controller asked if we were on the SHIFTY Arrival. We answered that we were not cleared an arrival. The Controller responded OK; turn to a 240 heading. A few moments later the Controller came on and said no fault of yours we are just trying to get this straight; what was your clearance; which we explained as direct MOMMO. He said contact Fort Myers; the flight continued to the airport with no more comments. After being on the ground; Ft Myers called me and asked me to contact Miami Center. I called and he asked me about the flight and clearance. I explained as above the numerous changes. He stated that he listened to the tapes and said everything you said is correct; you were not cleared via the arrival even thought the Controller had put it on the strip. His only concern for me was why I did not query the point after MOMMO. He then went on to say; 'let me think about this and whether or not to file a pilot deviation.' I explained that I would need to file a report and would like to know. I told him that I thought it was unfair considering that his Controller put the arrival on the strip and never cleared this way. Suggestions; I have encountered numerous complaints to the SHIFTY1 and think that is needing a overhaul.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.