Jose writes:

No.

You depart on 150, contact approach when told, and then approach control
will give you further clearance.

But I'm not at XYZ. I had a heading of 250, the last heading given to
me by Center. Then I was told "depart XYZ heading 150," which I
didn't understand. I verified that this did indeed mean "turn to 150
when you reach the XYZ VOR" (as I suspected), but then I realized that
the heading I had wouldn't take me directly to the VOR, so I turned 15
degrees or so to make the VOR. At XYZ, I turned to 150. Was this
wrong?

The only other option I can see is to continue on my heading and then
turn to 150 when I reach the 150 radial from XYZ. Is that what I
should do?

Or should I explicitly call up ATC and ask them what to do?

If you lose com, =then= you proceed
according to the lost com rules, which in this case would probably have
you turn to intercept the VOR (I assume the VOR is the first fix on your
clearance, and you're actually IMC).

In this case, I was in IMC, and this was a fix about two thirds of the
way down my flight plan. I had been given the "preferred route" for
my destination, which I dutifully placed into an amended IFR flight
plan, and then I followed instructions. Had I heard "resume own
navigation," I would have immediately turned to my next filed fix, but
I had not heard that.

2. If I am VFR in Class B, on a transition route, are altitude and
heading at my discretion (within the limits of the transition route)
UNLESS ATC directs me to a specific altitude and/or heading, or do I
always wait for ATC to provide exact instructions?

Once you and ATC agree on a route and altitude (or route and altitude
limits), they expect you to fly it. They provide separation from all
other aircraft, and can't do it if your altitude and heading are at your
discretion.

OK. I once entered Class B for landing, and although I was told what
runway I'd be assigned, I was never told to actually turn towards the
runway, so I kept on going. Then ATC told me I was supposed to be
heading towards the runway.

Note that some of the controllers in the virtual world are also real
controllers, and some aren't, although the latter go through quite a
bit of training.

3. If ATC says "proceed direct to XYZ," and XYZ is a waypoint in my
IFR flight plan, do I assume that I can resume my own navigation after
reaching XYZ, or do I maintain the same course and altitude until
otherwise instructed, even after reaching XYZ?

When you pass XYZ, absent further instruction, fly to your next
waypoint. But if in doubt, call and ask. (This is always true, but is
not well simulated by the computer).

In this case, ATC is provided by people, not the computer. Anyway,
thanks.

4. If an IFR departure plate says "fly runway heading, then vectors to
fix (or) XYZ," I take that to mean that I continue on the runway
heading after take-off, until ATC tells me to turn towards some other
fix. Is this correct?

Pretty much. In practice, you will be switched from the tower to
approach frequency, (or if flying from an uncontrolled airport, you will
switch from the CTAF advisory frequency to approach) after takeoff, and
then you'll call them, saying something like "New York Approach, Cessna
429 Whiskey Charlie off of Danbury, out of nine hundred for three
thousand". ATC will then give you further instructions, such as "Cessna
429 Whiskey Charlie, New York approach, radar contact, fly heading 240
vectors to Carmel, climb and maintain six thousand."

That's what I had hoped. I just need to know what to do if I don't
hear from ATC promptly.

In the sim, you can only communicate when the program allows you to, and
you can only say the things the program allows you to say. In real
life, there's more going on.

When you are flying in a virtual environment, the controllers are real
people, not computers.

I don't know exactly which communications you're referring to, but in
real life, VFR, if you are landing at an airport in class B, C, or D
airspace, a landing clearance includes the clearance to maneuver
appropriately to actually land there.

OK, thanks. I noticed that I was way past the runway centerline, but
I thought I had to wait until a controller actually told me to turn
towards the runway. When he finally did contact me, he sounded miffed
that I had gone too far.

If I am turning on my own in order to make my approach for landing,
should I tell ATC that I'm turning to a new heading?

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