Originally Posted by GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU
You are exactly right if you are given a specific heading to fly that heading. If you are given a RADAR heading, as I remember it, the controller expects to see your paint parallel with the PPI cursor on that heading.
I'll be interested now to know if I have remembered it wrong.
You have.
RADAR heading is poor phraseology held onto by some Controllers. You should either be told "Fly Heading..........." in which case ATC doesn't know your heading, but if you turn to what they say they will adjust you by the phrase "Turn left / right heading....................." (used when they do know what heading you are on).
RADAR heading doesn't exist.
Going back to the original question - it's this confusion that caused the UK to abandon "Runway heading" a couple of years back, to be replaced with "Straight ahead" - a lot simpler as it means continue out on the runway track, adhering to the track of the extended centreline.