This has been a recurring problem for me. I am flying a DF B737 with FMC programmed. I have been vectored by ATC after takeoff with no problems and am told to "resume own navigation." I am parallel to my magenta course shown in my map view. I begin to turn toward the magenta line to get on my route and ATC tells me I'm flying off course and the airway. I don't understand why or what to do. I thought resume own navigation meant I can engage LNAV and get on the exact airway. What is the correct procedure? Thanks. :-)

I believe that you are supposed to head direct to the next waypoint. When you head back to pick up the "green line" you are (at least I am) far enough off the "direct to" heading that ATC starts to nag.I'll leave it to someone else to comment on whether this is as it is in the real world. http://jdtllc.com/images/RCsupporter.jpg

With RC (or in part in the real world), resume own navigation means to turn towards the waypoint and fly the course from there. If you want to return to course before the waypoint, make sure you do it with a heading deviation less than that you have in the RC Options page. Then ATC is happy.

Thanks for the help guys. Looks like I have to study up on my FMC to alter my course to direct the next waypoint. Regards, Tom :-wave

Simple, Just click on the first waypoint in the legs page so it appears at the scratchpad line. Then enter and execute it in the first line of the page again.