When ATC says “direct to the final approach fix”, what are you actually cleared to do?

In this episode of Handling The Virtual Jets, we look at one of the most common -- and most dangerous -- assumptions made by pilots on VATSIM: believing a clearance has been given when it hasn’t.

Starting with a question from a VATSIM pilot, we unpack why approach clearances are never implied, why “direct to” only ever means what it says, and why good pilots don’t press on in to uncertainty -- they stop and clarify.

Along the way, we look at a recent UK Civil Aviation Authority occurrence report that highlights how small deviations from standard phraseology can lead to big misunderstandings, even between experienced pilots and controllers. It’s a timely reminder that aviation isn’t about blame -- it’s about understanding how human factors, expectation, and workload interact.

This episode also includes:

• A practical breakdown of Transition Altitude vs Transition Level, one of the most persistent sources of confusion amongst sim pilots
• A real-world Overheard on the Frequency moment that sounds like it could have come straight from VATSIM
• A Captain’s Challenge focused on sharpening your radio work by sticking to standard phraseology and keeping transmissions clear and concise

Whether you’re new to online flying or looking to bring a more professional, real-world mindset to your sim flying, this episode is for you!