Pilot was confused after departure as to what heading he should fly.

Attributes
ACN	128085
Time
Date	198911
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 32000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	128085
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 7600 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	128202
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Taking off on runway 36 at dca, we were expecting a vector turn to intercept the dca 328 radial, since visibility didn't permit a visual river departure. Upon going over to departure control, we were finally given vectors around a prohibited area, however, said vectors were given at the last minute and hopefully in time to avoid said prohibited area. In my opinion, tower should give a heading, or clarified instructions, when taking off from such a restrictive airport, particularly when WX conditions do not permit a visual departure and visual avoidance with prohibited areas. Unfortunately departure control frequency was totally congested, thus adding to the confusion and lack of clearance clarification.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT WAS CONFUSED AFTER DEP AS TO WHAT HEADING HE SHOULD FLY.

Narrative: TAKING OFF ON RWY 36 AT DCA, WE WERE EXPECTING A VECTOR TURN TO INTERCEPT THE DCA 328 RADIAL, SINCE VISIBILITY DIDN'T PERMIT A VISUAL RIVER DEP. UPON GOING OVER TO DEP CTL, WE WERE FINALLY GIVEN VECTORS AROUND A PROHIBITED AREA, HOWEVER, SAID VECTORS WERE GIVEN AT THE LAST MINUTE AND HOPEFULLY IN TIME TO AVOID SAID PROHIBITED AREA. IN MY OPINION, TWR SHOULD GIVE A HDG, OR CLARIFIED INSTRUCTIONS, WHEN TAKING OFF FROM SUCH A RESTRICTIVE ARPT, PARTICULARLY WHEN WX CONDITIONS DO NOT PERMIT A VISUAL DEP AND VISUAL AVOIDANCE WITH PROHIBITED AREAS. UNFORTUNATELY DEP CTL FREQ WAS TOTALLY CONGESTED, THUS ADDING TO THE CONFUSION AND LACK OF CLRNC CLARIFICATION.

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.