This question is for any controllers out there (Bananza Man?) As a controller, when you give us a vector heading to turn to and track, virtually all of us are GPS equipped whether its IFR certified or not. The question is this. Would you prefer that we follow the "magnetic" heading our DG is set to" when we are on a vector, or would it be even better to use GPS "tracking feature" as our heading compensating for crosswind? I am a recent IFR player, so hope this isn't a dumb question.

I have made the suggestion to FAA that controllers be allowed to issue vectors using ground track. I myself have already decided that if I have to work an aircraft that has lost its heading gyro and it has a GPS, any GPS, I will be using ground track instead of no gyro vectors. (Start turn, stop turn) However it's not in the rulebook yet and when a controller issues you a heading fly your DG. I have already compensated for wind. This is most critical on departure. If one guy is flying ground track and everybody else is flying a heading the guy flying ground track will end up with a pilot deviation if there's a loss of separation.

Okay, thanks. I'll stick to DG headings on the vectors. Maybe in the future we'll start seeing ground track vectors being issued as GPS becomes the norm. It seems that GPS ground track vectors would be more precise, but yes, we all need to be on the same page.