I don't know if this is a question or just an observation-- I have noticed that when I fly IFR in FS09, soon after takeoff I get the instruction to "Resume own navigation." I have always taken that to mean that I should proceed to fly my established flight plan, by my own navigation-- VOR, direct-GPS, whatever plan I filed.
But on a lot of flights (shorter ones, especially) I start getting vectors from ATC right away, and if I try to fly my plan, they say "Please expedite your turn to (whatever heading they instructed)."
So I guess the question is, in either real life or sim flight, when does ATC allow you to fly the plan, and when do they start to give you vectors? Is FS09 doing that just because I am within a certain distance of the destination, or what?
I know this is probably not realistic, but since I enjoy the challenge of navigating on my own, sometimes I will file an IFR plan (just so they will give me clearance), take off, then as soon as possible I cancel IFR. I fly my plan, navigate on my own, and when I'm about 30 miles from the destination I'll file a new flight plan en route, and let them vector me in. That's a lot more fun than just sitting there for an hour, waiting for ATC to say "Niner Niner Echo Mike, turn right to 30 degrees."
Ed
As you surmised, the phrase "Resume Own Navigation" clears you to fly the flight plan you filed from the point where that clearance was issued to your destination. I can't speak for the FS09 programmers but I assume they are modeling what you would expect in the real world.
Radar vectors are received quite often and for a variety of reasons. In some cases, it has to do with direct conflicts with other flights. In other cases is is used for flow control. Often it will just be used a a shortcut to get you where you want to go more quickly. I would expect you would recieve vectors more often in busier airspace than in less busy and more often in the terminal areas than in the enroute segments.
The airlines, and general aviation pilots, appreciate vectors since they often save time and fuel. In the real world, you are free to ask if you can fly the full procedure and, if traffic permits, the controllers will usually clear you for that. I don't think such a capability exists in FS09.
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