Narrative:

On departure initial contact with nassau departure, we were assigned a climb to 12000 ft MSL and a right turn. I heard and read back 'climb to 12000 ft right turn to 340 degree.' the controller made no further comment, and the captain turned to 340 degree, climbed to 12000 ft. At 12000 ft I questioned departure on whether we should intercept arwy BR22V from that heading as we had already passed through it. He replied that we had been assigned heading 230 degree but had flown 330 degree, so we should turn back to 300 degree to intercept BR22V. I told him we had heard and read back 340 degree. He replied that 'that was the other controller.' conclusion: radio xmissions are less than optimum at nassau. Listen and question heading and altitude assignments. Controllers must provide more effective 'hearback'. Too often they don't listen when their instructions are repeated and don't catch errors.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT TRACK HEADING DEVIATION ON VECTOR DEP FROM NAS.

Narrative: ON DEP INITIAL CONTACT WITH NASSAU DEP, WE WERE ASSIGNED A CLB TO 12000 FT MSL AND A R TURN. I HEARD AND READ BACK 'CLB TO 12000 FT R TURN TO 340 DEG.' THE CTLR MADE NO FURTHER COMMENT, AND THE CAPT TURNED TO 340 DEG, CLBED TO 12000 FT. AT 12000 FT I QUESTIONED DEP ON WHETHER WE SHOULD INTERCEPT ARWY BR22V FROM THAT HDG AS WE HAD ALREADY PASSED THROUGH IT. HE REPLIED THAT WE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED HDG 230 DEG BUT HAD FLOWN 330 DEG, SO WE SHOULD TURN BACK TO 300 DEG TO INTERCEPT BR22V. I TOLD HIM WE HAD HEARD AND READ BACK 340 DEG. HE REPLIED THAT 'THAT WAS THE OTHER CTLR.' CONCLUSION: RADIO XMISSIONS ARE LESS THAN OPTIMUM AT NASSAU. LISTEN AND QUESTION HDG AND ALT ASSIGNMENTS. CTLRS MUST PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE 'HEARBACK'. TOO OFTEN THEY DON'T LISTEN WHEN THEIR INSTRUCTIONS ARE REPEATED AND DON'T CATCH ERRORS.

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.