Narrative:

We arrived at the airport [45 minutes before] departure. Weather was 002 ovc; calm winds; with fog. Our departure would be night; IMC. ZZZ is surrounded by significant terrain hazards (see ops alert ZZZ terrain hazards). For best terrain avoidance; we requested to depart runway xx with the ZZZ SID. FMGC was programed with runway xx; ZZZ; direct zzzzz. Both pilots checked the route; and agreed that it was correct. We also built the engine failure procedure in the fix page. Preflight briefing included a detailed discussion of the T procedure and terrain avoidance. The [SID] departure on runway xx requires a runway heading to intercept the 155 radial inbound to ZZZ (VOR). Taxied out and took off on runway xx. At about 800 feet AGL the flight director commanded a left turn. First officer was flying and initially turned to the left and then said; 'this isn't right; we should be going to ZZZ (VOR)'; and rolled out of bank. The FMGC showed ZZZ (VOR) as the 'from' point; and zzzzz as the 'to' point even though we were approximately 5 miles south of ZZZ (VOR). I programmed the FMGC to proceed direct to ZZZ (VOR). Center called and asked if we were on the SID; and I replied that we were direct ZZZ (VOR). Climbing through 7000 feet we were cleared direct zzzzz.the reason for this report is that I am concerned that there may be an anomaly in the FMGC database for this airfield (this aircraft is [from a foreign air carrier]). I am virtually certain that we programmed the FMGC correctly. The FMGC directed us to turn miles prior to the first fix on the departure in mountainous terrain in IMC conditions; and I am not certain that we would have had terrain clearance if we followed the flight director. Quick recognition from first officer kept us from following the erroneous flight director commands. I am hoping that someone 'a lot smarter than me' could look into the data base; and possibly fly this departure in the simulator. It may save some other crew from making a hard left turn into terrain during night IMC conditions at ZZZ.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 flight crew reported the FMC directed the aircraft's autopilot to turn in the wrong direction.

Narrative: We arrived at the airport [45 minutes before] departure. Weather was 002 OVC; calm winds; with fog. Our departure would be night; IMC. ZZZ is surrounded by significant terrain hazards (see Ops Alert ZZZ Terrain Hazards). For best terrain avoidance; we requested to depart runway XX with the ZZZ SID. FMGC was programed with runway XX; ZZZ; direct ZZZZZ. Both pilots checked the route; and agreed that it was correct. We also built the engine failure procedure in the fix page. Preflight briefing included a detailed discussion of the T procedure and terrain avoidance. The [SID] departure on runway XX requires a runway heading to intercept the 155 radial inbound to ZZZ (VOR). Taxied out and took off on runway XX. At about 800 feet AGL the flight director commanded a left turn. FO was flying and initially turned to the left and then said; 'this isn't right; we should be going to ZZZ (VOR)'; and rolled out of bank. The FMGC showed ZZZ (VOR) as the 'from' point; and ZZZZZ as the 'to' point even though we were approximately 5 miles south of ZZZ (VOR). I programmed the FMGC to proceed direct to ZZZ (VOR). Center called and asked if we were on the SID; and I replied that we were direct ZZZ (VOR). Climbing through 7000 feet we were cleared direct ZZZZZ.The reason for this report is that I am concerned that there may be an anomaly in the FMGC database for this airfield (this aircraft is [from a foreign air carrier]). I am virtually certain that we programmed the FMGC correctly. The FMGC directed us to turn miles prior to the first fix on the departure in mountainous terrain in IMC conditions; and I am not certain that we would have had terrain clearance if we followed the Flight director. Quick recognition from FO kept us from following the erroneous flight director commands. I am hoping that someone 'a lot smarter than me' could look into the data base; and possibly fly this departure in the simulator. It may save some other crew from making a hard left turn into terrain during night IMC conditions at ZZZ.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.