Atc clearance

[Mark.]

Hi Guys, recently on a trip (IFR) from Shute Harbour to Palm Island, i flight planned YSHR ALBUX W387 TL YPAM, once airborne i was cleared YPAM via ALBUX. Does this imply Albux direct YPAM? He didnt say “Cleared Flight Plan Route”? I ended up tracking AlLBUX direct for YPAM and not via LINBO & TL as thats what makes the w387 airway, or is it expected to mean FPR Via Albux, as the first point.

[Lapon]

It simply means via ALBUX as the first waypoint, otherwise you would have been told 'from ALBUX track direct to YPAM'.

[Hollywood1]

I'd be asking the controller who gave me the clearance to clarify. ATC gets stroppy if we don't read back via 'flight planned route', so if that's what they want, they themselves should include it in the clearance.