"Doug" wrote in message
om...

Several times, while under IFR flight plan and radar services, I have
been vectored to intercept the localizer and the controller was late
in turning me into the localizer. This usually happens when I need
about a 90 degree turn to the localizer. I have decided not to wait
for his vector and just turn. This has always been when the freq is
busy. There is a very small time window to turn (about 15 seconds), so
if the freq is busy, I can't request a turn before I am past, so now,
if this happens, I just turn. I told a CFII this and he said, ok, but
its not really the legal thing to do. I believe it is the safe thing
to do, and therefore legal. Any opinions from the group?


While it may or may not be safe, there's no question that it's not legal.
Except in an emergency, no person may operate an aircraft contrary to an ATC
instruction in an area in which air traffic control is exercised. The
controller may be bringing you through the localizer for spacing. He's
supposed to tell you if he's doing that, but the freq's just as busy for him
as it is for you. You may need to prompt him about joining the localizer,
but, of course, the freq's just as busy for you as it is for him.