Resume own navigation?

[rich_g85]

Evening all,
Just a quick (probably very simple) question if I may. Several times I've heard the phrase "Jersey 123 resume own navigation xxxxx (eg ORTAC)" spoken on Solent Radar. I just wondered why the aircraft would *not* have been doing its' 'own navigation' in the first place to be told to resume it?

Thanks

[Barnaby the Bear]

The Aircraft was likely on a Radar heading prior to this instruction.

[Tom!]

If he was told to maintain a radar heading for separation for example.
When the vector is not needed any more he can resume his own navigation to a fix.

[eastern wiseguy]

Just think of it like this. Two aircraft on their own navigation one eastbound,the other westbound. The west bound needs to descend but this will bring it into conflict with the eastbound aircraft. The controller places the aircraft on headings to effect separation. Once they have safely passed each other they may then be placed on their own navigation.

Hope that helps


EW

[rich_g85]

That makes perfect sense - thank you!