Tower controller described a failure to comply with local procedures with respect to departure headi...

Attributes
ACN	1082390
Time
Date	201304
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	BWI.Airport
State Reference	MD
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Departure Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

I was working on local 1 position. I launched three departures; 3 miles apart without issuing any right turns. I then was told by the TRACON to stop all my departures because they were all runway heading; I responded that I one rolling so the TRACON told me to give him a left turn out to 330 degrees; which I did. I realized I had made a mistake; by not issuing the first aircraft a right turn out; which was a deviation; but if I had then turned the second and third aircraft it would have been a separation error. I just feel at that time my mind was somewhere else thinking about this furlough. The whole day had me upset because of the sequestration and furloughs; and this was the result!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Controller described a failure to comply with local procedures with respect to departure headings listing preoccupation with 'furlough' concerns as a casual factor.

Narrative: I was working on Local 1 position. I launched three departures; 3 miles apart without issuing any right turns. I then was told by the TRACON to stop all my departures because they were all runway heading; I responded that I one rolling so the TRACON told me to give him a left turn out to 330 degrees; which I did. I realized I had made a mistake; by not issuing the first aircraft a right turn out; which was a deviation; but if I had then turned the second and third aircraft it would have been a separation error. I just feel at that time my mind was somewhere else thinking about this furlough. The whole day had me upset because of the sequestration and furloughs; and this was the result!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Tower controller described a failure to comply with local procedures with respect to departure headings listing preoccupation with 'furlough' concerns as a casual factor.