I got my IFR rating 1 month ago and now have a license to learn.



Pont of confusion.



I enter a "direct-to" in the GPS and fly the desired track (DTK) heading
with the Heading Bug and the autopilot in heading mode to the IAF. As I
approach the IAF and engage the "APR" mode (with a flight plan and approach
loaded). The autopilot does not track the DTK (my current heading), but in
fact wants to intercept the course stored in the GPS active flight plan
(which is a different heading than I am currently tracking with DTK).



Am I correct in assuming the Autopilot wants to fly the GPS loaded flight
plan/approach in the NAV/APR mode and NOT the DTK I selected in "direct to"
in the GPS?



I am flying a C172S/G with a KAP140 autopilot and a KLN94 GPS. Assume I load
a short flight plan loaded with the first waypoint as the IAF for a GPS
approach to the destination airport. I am doing a Tower Enroute with a
Departure Procedure. I takeoff, start the DP and is handed-off to Departure
Control. I request the GPS approach and "direct" to the IAF. I am assigned
the "direct". I enter into the GPS the "direct to IAF" and get a DTK. When I
engage the APR on the autopilot, it navigates to the flight plan loaded in
the GPS and not the desired track (DTK) I am flying.