Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
While being vectored from the arrival to the ILS6 approach we were issued confusing instructions between approach controllers. The previous controller issued us direct VINGS and maintain 2;000'. Then the next controller issued us 'Heading 090 to intercept.' This is where the confusion started as we were already direct to a fix on the localizer (VINGS) and with the winds aloft (300@50) a heading of 090 pushed us off of the previous track to intercept. The frequency was busy so by the time we queried the controller about it; we were about to go through the localizer. Then there was a break in the frequency so we asked the controlled to clarify and the controller issued '030 to intercept the localizer; 2;000 until established; cleared for the ILS 6 approach'. This new vector and clearance now made sense; but we had already flown through the localizer but and we continued the approach without incident. The causes were busy airspace; high workload on the controller; and breakdown in communication between controllers. This might have been avoided if we had informed the controller upon check-in that we were previously assigned direct VINGS rather than the controller assuming we were being vectored to the localizer.
Pilot reported receiving conflicting heading clearances during hand-off between ATC controllers on vectors for the ILS.