Fred E. Pate wrote:

I thought that VFR towers (with a DBRITE) could *suggest* headings if you're having a hard time finding the airport or about to collide with traffic but could not assign headings unless, as posted by others, it is a relayed departure vector from the TRACON.

You are correct. Typical phraseology would be "N123 suggest heading 180
for the airport."


So what is a non-vector heading anyway? Who gives them? And how do you know when you've gotten one? Do you have examples?

A controller would use them instead of saying something like "Proceed
direct to the smokestack then the airport will be at yout two o'clock."
They would be used by a VFR tower controller. You know you got one
when the word suggested or similar wording is used. That's how you know
it's optional.