Paul Folbrecht wrote:
direct XXX, contact Socal on 134.65." When you contact
the next controller you should say "Airbus 12345, 2000, direct XXX."
Just like if they give you a heading and are handed off, you should
tell them your newly assigned heading. Don't assume anything. A
I haven't been doing that. That right there could (and probably does)
explain 2 of the 3 cases I can recall of being asked this question.

from my very limited experience the first controller will
say "fly heading XXX and intercept V25..." Usually the next
controller all you have to say is "heading XXX" and can leave
off the intercept V25 as that will clue them in enough.

And, as I noted, not on this or any other time did I detect annoyance
from the controller.. in fact she (Chicago center) was very polite and
chipper.

it's amazing how you can really see personalities and/or moods over the
air.

Rudder trim? You mean the little tab on the back of the rudder? :-) I
fly a '79 C-152, and, no, it does not fly completely hands-off level.
Few of them do!

I didn't even know a C152 flies. ;-) j/k. The other way to do it
is just crack open a door. hehehe.

Another thing I've wondered about is how often the pilot is told when
they'll be filing paperwork.

I've heard that it takes number of things. 1, affect safety of flight.
2, not apologize and sound like you did everything right and they
are wrong. 3, they are in a bad mood. I'll tell you when it happens
to me although I don't exactly plan on it. ;-)

It seems the norm is the dreaded "call
this number on landing" but I know that they don't have to do that.

well the other day I heard a pilot ask the SQL Tower for the controllers
name. She got the initials. I guess it can work both ways.

Before somebody replies, I know that controllers are not out to violate
pilots and are almost all good guys & gals.

agreed. They've help my butt more times than they've given me a hard
time.

And 2) Just _what_ is the IFR "heading tolerance", anyway??
I should have stated the question as "course-deviation tolerance".

I've never heard of any but that doesn't mean much. I presume as
long as you are within the +/-4nm of the airway they don't care.
You violate their aircraft separation and then they might 'violate'
you though.

Maybe the best thing to do is don't mention the VFR GPS as it implies
that you are /G.

Gerald