"Paul Tomblin" wrote in message
...

Are you saying you can't be cleared direct to a navaid unless you're in
radar contact?


Pretty much, not if the navaid is beyond altitude and distance limitations.



Why not?


The short answer is because them is the rules, see paragraphs 4-1-1 and
4-1-2 of FAA Order 7110.65 at this link:

http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/ATC/Chp4/atc0401.html

A more useful answer is navaid reliability. Sure, VOR reception is
line-of-sight, and we all know they can be received at distances greater
than indicated in the table. But the further you get from any given navaid
the closer you may be getting to another navaid using the same frequency, so
limits have to be set. Those limits can be relaxed when you're in radar
contact because ATC can nudge you back on course if you stray.