Narrative:

Filed flight plan was cvg 2 departure which instructs to maintain runway heading vectors (first fix was direct to rod VOR). During takeoff was instructed to contact departure at approximately 500' AGL. Checked in with departure at approximately 800' AGL. Was immediately instructed to intercept V275 (a low altitude arwy) to day, then direct rod, flight plan route. This modification to route was given at a very critical phase of flight on a low altitude arwy which was unexpected and required immediate reference to maps. If this type of routing is routine in cvg then it should be specified when given the ATC clearance on the ground. When given a routing change or modification when cleaning up the aircraft at 1000' AGL, it creates a distraction at a very critical time. Not a good time to reference maps to verify a low altitude arwy when filed in the high altitude structure! It is not a question of being able to comply, but rather the time and phase of flight this clearance was given. I would recommend that in the future such deviation be given at a more appropriate time--in this case on the ground when the ATC clearance is given if it is known at that time. If not known then vectors should be maintained by heading assignment with a more appropriate time. I believe, at a minimum, upon the completion of noise abatement clean-up and acceleration to en route climb speed. This point is 3000' AGL. This is especially important on an FMS equipped aircraft to avoid referencing en route charts and manual tuning of vors.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT FLT CREW OBJECTS TO HAVING THEIR SID AMENDED ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH DEP CTL.

Narrative: FILED FLT PLAN WAS CVG 2 DEP WHICH INSTRUCTS TO MAINTAIN RWY HDG VECTORS (FIRST FIX WAS DIRECT TO ROD VOR). DURING TKOF WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT DEP AT APPROX 500' AGL. CHKED IN WITH DEP AT APPROX 800' AGL. WAS IMMEDIATELY INSTRUCTED TO INTERCEPT V275 (A LOW ALT ARWY) TO DAY, THEN DIRECT ROD, FLT PLAN RTE. THIS MODIFICATION TO RTE WAS GIVEN AT A VERY CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT ON A LOW ALT ARWY WHICH WAS UNEXPECTED AND REQUIRED IMMEDIATE REF TO MAPS. IF THIS TYPE OF ROUTING IS ROUTINE IN CVG THEN IT SHOULD BE SPECIFIED WHEN GIVEN THE ATC CLRNC ON THE GND. WHEN GIVEN A ROUTING CHANGE OR MODIFICATION WHEN CLEANING UP THE ACFT AT 1000' AGL, IT CREATES A DISTR AT A VERY CRITICAL TIME. NOT A GOOD TIME TO REF MAPS TO VERIFY A LOW ALT ARWY WHEN FILED IN THE HIGH ALT STRUCTURE! IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF BEING ABLE TO COMPLY, BUT RATHER THE TIME AND PHASE OF FLT THIS CLRNC WAS GIVEN. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IN THE FUTURE SUCH DEVIATION BE GIVEN AT A MORE APPROPRIATE TIME--IN THIS CASE ON THE GND WHEN THE ATC CLRNC IS GIVEN IF IT IS KNOWN AT THAT TIME. IF NOT KNOWN THEN VECTORS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED BY HDG ASSIGNMENT WITH A MORE APPROPRIATE TIME. I BELIEVE, AT A MINIMUM, UPON THE COMPLETION OF NOISE ABATEMENT CLEAN-UP AND ACCELERATION TO ENRTE CLB SPD. THIS POINT IS 3000' AGL. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT ON AN FMS EQUIPPED ACFT TO AVOID REFERENCING ENRTE CHARTS AND MANUAL TUNING OF VORS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.