Departure control assigned a SID, but center expected a specific heading rather than the published p...

Attributes
ACN	116102
Time
Date	198906
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sli
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	116102
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

Departed san for smf, cleared via peble one departure, seal beach transition. Climbing thru FL180 (EST) san departure control changed us to lax center. After checking in with center, we were requested to turn left to 270 degree (?) and maintain FL200. We did, and informed traffic passed us at FL210. (Center had expected us to fly a heading rather than the departure. We were unaware of any heading requirement from ATC.) there was no 'near miss' and 'evasive action' was very mild. In cockpit discussion later, crew was unable to reconstruct conversation with san departure, but we didn't recall being given a heading in lieu of the published procedure. Unpleasant note: my 3RD ATC incident in last 3 weeks, all along the west coast.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DEP CTL ASSIGNED A SID, BUT CENTER EXPECTED A SPECIFIC HEADING RATHER THAN THE PUBLISHED PROC.

Narrative: DEPARTED SAN FOR SMF, CLRED VIA PEBLE ONE DEP, SEAL BEACH TRANSITION. CLIMBING THRU FL180 (EST) SAN DEP CTL CHANGED US TO LAX CENTER. AFTER CHECKING IN WITH CENTER, WE WERE REQUESTED TO TURN LEFT TO 270 DEG (?) AND MAINTAIN FL200. WE DID, AND INFORMED TFC PASSED US AT FL210. (CENTER HAD EXPECTED US TO FLY A HDG RATHER THAN THE DEP. WE WERE UNAWARE OF ANY HDG REQUIREMENT FROM ATC.) THERE WAS NO 'NEAR MISS' AND 'EVASIVE ACTION' WAS VERY MILD. IN COCKPIT DISCUSSION LATER, CREW WAS UNABLE TO RECONSTRUCT CONVERSATION WITH SAN DEP, BUT WE DIDN'T RECALL BEING GIVEN A HDG IN LIEU OF THE PUBLISHED PROC. UNPLEASANT NOTE: MY 3RD ATC INCIDENT IN LAST 3 WEEKS, ALL ALONG THE WEST COAST.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.

Departure control assigned a SID, but center expected a specific heading rather than the published procedure.