Narrative:

Our clearance read: ewr 3 departure, radar vectors to white intersection as filed, expect FL390 10 mins after departure. As we were flying a 220 degree heading per the departure, we were cleared to fly 230 degree heading to intercept 357 degree right of col. We requested radar vectors to white intersection as per our clearance so as to avoid reprogramming our FMS at 6000' MSL in traffic when we both need to look outside for safety. The controller did respond by saying he was vectoring us to the 357 degree right of col. We reprogrammed our FMS and when it came on we were right on the radial, so we turned toward col and asked the controller if he was going to vector us to white as requested. He then read the procedure on the departure that says to expect vectors to col 350 degree right to col, then the 204 degree right to white intersection. This is a very ambiguous departure procedure if they expect us to fly radials on VOR's in RNAV equipped aircraft. The clearance should not read vectors to white intersection. It is very difficult (and unsafe) to reprogram the FMS below 10000' in heavy traffic while being issued turns by departure control as well as trying to watch for other traffic. If departure wants us to expect to fly certain radials they should make that a definite part of the departure procedure of clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ADVTECH WDB FLT CREW OBJECTS TO AMENDED DEP CLRNC.

Narrative: OUR CLRNC READ: EWR 3 DEP, RADAR VECTORS TO WHITE INTXN AS FILED, EXPECT FL390 10 MINS AFTER DEP. AS WE WERE FLYING A 220 DEG HDG PER THE DEP, WE WERE CLRED TO FLY 230 DEG HDG TO INTERCEPT 357 DEG R OF COL. WE REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS TO WHITE INTXN AS PER OUR CLRNC SO AS TO AVOID REPROGRAMMING OUR FMS AT 6000' MSL IN TFC WHEN WE BOTH NEED TO LOOK OUTSIDE FOR SAFETY. THE CTLR DID RESPOND BY SAYING HE WAS VECTORING US TO THE 357 DEG R OF COL. WE REPROGRAMMED OUR FMS AND WHEN IT CAME ON WE WERE RIGHT ON THE RADIAL, SO WE TURNED TOWARD COL AND ASKED THE CTLR IF HE WAS GOING TO VECTOR US TO WHITE AS REQUESTED. HE THEN READ THE PROC ON THE DEP THAT SAYS TO EXPECT VECTORS TO COL 350 DEG R TO COL, THEN THE 204 DEG R TO WHITE INTXN. THIS IS A VERY AMBIGUOUS DEP PROC IF THEY EXPECT US TO FLY RADIALS ON VOR'S IN RNAV EQUIPPED ACFT. THE CLRNC SHOULD NOT READ VECTORS TO WHITE INTXN. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT (AND UNSAFE) TO REPROGRAM THE FMS BELOW 10000' IN HEAVY TFC WHILE BEING ISSUED TURNS BY DEP CTL AS WELL AS TRYING TO WATCH FOR OTHER TFC. IF DEP WANTS US TO EXPECT TO FLY CERTAIN RADIALS THEY SHOULD MAKE THAT A DEFINITE PART OF THE DEP PROC OF CLRNC.

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.