After departing iad a flight was cleared direct fluky but the crew heard pauki which was activated i...

Attributes
ACN	1145365
Time
Date	201301
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	PCT.TRACON
State Reference	VA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	FMS/FMC
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50 Flight Crew Total 3700 Flight Crew Type 1800
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

When departing iad we were instructed to fly direct to pauki (poo-key). I read back direct to pauki (poo-key). Potomac departure then assigned a frequency change to a different potomac departure [controller] and we checked in with our altitude and informed [them] we were direct to pauki (poo-key). The new potomac departure [controller] assigned a higher altitude which we read back. A moment later potomac departure asked if we were direct fluky (flew-key). I responded; do you want us direct to pauki (poo-key) or direct to fluky (flew-key)? He said turn direct to fluky (flew-key). We immediately turned direct to fluky (flew-key). I'm not sure how this could have been avoided. We were assigned pauki; so we flew direct to pauki. The next controller seemed to think we should be direct to fluky; although we were given direct to pauki. He then assigned us direct to fluky; so we turned direct to fluky. Maybe; if correct pronunciations were given in the notes of arrivals and departures; they would aid in situations similar to this one.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: After departing IAD a flight was cleared direct FLUKY but the crew heard PAUKI which was activated in the FMC. ATC questioned the track deviation then recleared the flight direct FLUKY.

Narrative: When departing IAD we were instructed to fly direct to PAUKI (POO-key). I read back direct to PAUKI (POO-key). Potomac Departure then assigned a frequency change to a different Potomac Departure [Controller] and we checked in with our altitude and informed [them] we were direct to PAUKI (POO-key). The new Potomac Departure [Controller] assigned a higher altitude which we read back. A moment later Potomac Departure asked if we were direct FLUKY (FLEW-key). I responded; do you want us direct to PAUKI (POO-key) or direct to FLUKY (FLEW-key)? He said turn direct to FLUKY (FLEW-key). We immediately turned direct to FLUKY (FLEW-key). I'm not sure how this could have been avoided. We were assigned PAUKI; so we flew direct to PAUKI. The next Controller seemed to think we should be direct to FLUKY; although we were given direct to PAUKI. He then assigned us direct to FLUKY; so we turned direct to FLUKY. Maybe; if correct pronunciations were given in the notes of arrivals and departures; they would aid in situations similar to this one.

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.

After departing iad a flight was cleared direct fluky but the crew heard pauki which was activated in the FMC. ATC questioned the track deviation then recleared the flight direct fluky.