RubberWatch wrote:
Hello-

I am a student pilot. I was out flying solo today and was instructed
by ATC to fly a heading of 210. I thought he said 110 and I flew on
that heading. He then told me it looks like your going the wrong
direction i need you to fly 210. I got a bit locked up and said 210.
I ended up on 210 but I really kinda got "mike fright".

Anyway, I just wanted to know if this would constitute a violation and
if I might receive something in the mail, etc? He later told me to
"resume own navigaion" and I did not know what that meant...I asked
him if I could do my airwork and he said resume on navigation meant I
can do anything I want.

He did not ask me to call a land line or anything like that, though
when I requested to change to my CTAF as I had the airport in site, he
said frequency change approved and squalk VFR when I am on the ground.

Any thoughts?
SD

Yes. If you are directed by ATC to do something and you screw it up,
don't panic or get mike fright. The world won't come to an end; trust me.
Two things might happen. You will either be told of the error by ATC and
asked to correct it as you were here, or you yourself will notice the
error. Either way, key the mike, acknowledge the mistake openly and in a
professional manner and follow as ATC from that point directs.

The main thing to remember when dealing with ATC is that their prime
concern is your safety and the safety of other traffic. Nither you OR
ATC are perfect and mistakes will happen. What's important is that any
and all mistakes are corrected. It's not a blame game. It's a safety
game, and the trick is to minimize the mistakes.
By acknowledging a mistake with ATC you are helping them help you.
Believe me, they are not out there to write you up or diminish you in
any way.
Shoot straight with ATC all the time.....EVERY TIME!

--
Dudley Henriques