Flight crew of large transport protests too many heading and altitude changes departing iad.

Attributes
ACN	123751
Time
Date	198909
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : eno
State Reference	DE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tracon : iad tower : bos
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 4500
ASRS Report	123751
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	123985
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure Inter Facility Coordination Failure
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

After takeoff from iad, we received 3 altitude changes and 2 heading vectors. The last one issued by iad departure was approximately, 'turn left 070, intercept the kenton 271 degree right for now, switch to ZDC frequency XXX.' we checked in with ZDC and continued inbound on the 271 degree right, expecting further clearance. As we crossed the bross intersection, ZDC called and asked if we had the clearance for the 235 degree right of woodstown (ood). I replied we were filed that way, but on the 271 degree right of kenton awaiting further clearance. We were then instructed to turn to 360 degrees. Center advised us the next controller had to level an aircraft at kenton inbound to ewr on the warrd 2 arrival, due to loss of sep.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF LGT PROTESTS TOO MANY HEADING AND ALT CHANGES DEPARTING IAD.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF FROM IAD, WE RECEIVED 3 ALT CHANGES AND 2 HDG VECTORS. THE LAST ONE ISSUED BY IAD DEP WAS APPROX, 'TURN LEFT 070, INTERCEPT THE KENTON 271 DEG R FOR NOW, SWITCH TO ZDC FREQ XXX.' WE CHKED IN WITH ZDC AND CONTINUED INBND ON THE 271 DEG R, EXPECTING FURTHER CLRNC. AS WE CROSSED THE BROSS INTXN, ZDC CALLED AND ASKED IF WE HAD THE CLRNC FOR THE 235 DEG R OF WOODSTOWN (OOD). I REPLIED WE WERE FILED THAT WAY, BUT ON THE 271 DEG R OF KENTON AWAITING FURTHER CLRNC. WE WERE THEN INSTRUCTED TO TURN TO 360 DEGS. CENTER ADVISED US THE NEXT CTLR HAD TO LEVEL AN ACFT AT KENTON INBND TO EWR ON THE WARRD 2 ARR, DUE TO LOSS OF SEP.

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.