I was flying across northern Australia and was flying GPS between Cairnes and Darwin. I was 30 miles into my route, right on track and began getting repeated calls telling me I was off coure and was ordered to do a 180 to head back until I had nav data (paraphrased). I did that and flew the 30 miles back to Cairnes... went back to my flight plan. At the same point RC began harping about my course. My flight was VFR using low altitude airways, flying via GPS.Any idea why RC was calling me an idiot for being off course? I'm not saying that I'm not an idiot, I just don't know what I was doing wrong.

Most likely your first Cairns waypoint hadn't "sequenced." If you don't get close enough to a waypoint, RC doesn't recognise you've passed it. The way to know if this has happened is to look at the RC window it will have the name of the waypoint that RC thinks you're tracking to. All you need to do to fix this is request direct to the next waypoint.So in your example, once RC starts harping on about tracking, or if you notice earlier, just ask for direct to Darwin then continue on your way. Direct tracking is always approved.- Jon

how far from the departure airport was your first checkpoint?there are several clues that you are flying a departure procedure.first clearance will say "via departure procedure, then as filed"and tower won't give you a heading (runway, or a specific numeric heading) when you are cleared for takeoffjd

I'll have to check that sequencing. Auto pilot turned me just before the waypoint. Isn't there a proximity (i.e. 2.5 miles) around a waypoint that "counts" as crossing the waypoint? If I ask for direct to Darwin what happens to the other waypoints in the LA flight plan?

The first checkpoint was about 1 mile N of the airport. I departed south and did a 180 to go back to the waypoint.One thing I did notice... when I asked for clearance to take off I didn't get the typical "cleared for takeoff" but rather "request received". I then sat for 10 minutes with a clear runway waiting, no other A/C either arriving or departing, got tired of waiting and just took off. The controller switched me to Brisbane Control and they told me to proceed as filed. Not being a pilot, I'm not certain I'm following all the correct procedures. When I received the "proceed as filed" I turned on the autopilot (GPS) and off I went. RC has been very predictable until this flight.Does IFR or VFR have anything to do with it?

i suggest readin, and flying the tutorial which deals with departure procedures. let me know if you have any other questionsjd

You have to be within two miles of a waypoint during departure to get credit for it. That first waypoint is very close to the runway and if not reasonably in line you are probably not falling within tolerance. If the procedure allows, drop it from your flight plan. Manually fly near it if you must then turn onto your GPS path toward the "new" first waypoint as displayed in the RC window status area. You should be within a few degrees of the heading displayed in the RC status area. RC always uses your present position to determine headings and distance to your next waypoint. As described below if you wish to lock your A/P to GPS do a direct-to on your GPS first to generate a new path from your present position.If your "new" first waypoint is outside of thirty miles you will get vectors unless you choose otherwise. If you are getting vectors when told to resume own navigation do not return to your GPS path until you do a Direct-To from your present position to that waypoint as RC expects. When your new path is displayed you can then lock your A/P to the GPS.

>One thing I did notice... when I asked for clearance to take>off I didn't get the typical "cleared for takeoff" but rather>"request received". I then sat for 10 minutes with a clear>runway waiting, no other A/C either arriving or departing, got>tired of waiting and just took off. The controller switched>me to Brisbane Control and they told me to proceed as filed. This seems to be a problem with the Cairns airport layout. The depicted holding points aren't close enough to the runway for RC to recognise that you are in position and ready. If it happens again just taxi past the holding point a bit while remaining clear of the runway, you should get your line-up and take-off instructions then.If you request "direct to" a waypoint, you'll get clearance direct to that waypoint (it has to be part of the flight-plan) and then the rest of the flight is flown as planned. So in your situation when you ask for direct to Darwin, it will stop nagging you to go back to Cairns and clear you direct to Darwin then in accordance with the original plan.