Tower issued wrong heading to air carrier departure off eyw, visual separation used so no separation...

Attributes
ACN	165327
Time
Date	199012
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : eyw
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nqx tower : eyw tower : gmu
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : non radar
Experience	controller non radar : 6
ASRS Report	165327
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure Inter Facility Coordination Failure Operational Deviation

Narrative:

While working FD combined ground control/clearance delivery I obtained a release (IFR) for air carrier X. I thought nqx said reference air carrier Y visibility sep approved, air carrier X released. In which according to our letter of agreement eyw is to provide visibility sep between air carrier X and air carrier Y and release the aircraft flying heading 360 degree. After the aft was airborne and talking to nqx, nqx called and asked if we gave him runway heading. I said negative. They said that is what we were given. After checking the tapes I found that this was true. The word runway heading was said after the word release. I just heard the word released and gave the local controller that information. From now on I will repeat their (nqx) instructions so as not to have that happen again. I also believe when given releases nqx should state heading before the word released.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TWR ISSUED WRONG HEADING TO ACR DEP OFF EYW, VISUAL SEPARATION USED SO NO SEPARATION LOSS.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING FD COMBINED GC/CD I OBTAINED A RELEASE (IFR) FOR ACR X. I THOUGHT NQX SAID REFERENCE ACR Y VIS SEP APPROVED, ACR X RELEASED. IN WHICH ACCORDING TO OUR LETTER OF AGREEMENT EYW IS TO PROVIDE VIS SEP BTWN ACR X AND ACR Y AND RELEASE THE ACFT FLYING HDG 360 DEG. AFTER THE AFT WAS AIRBORNE AND TALKING TO NQX, NQX CALLED AND ASKED IF WE GAVE HIM RWY HDG. I SAID NEGATIVE. THEY SAID THAT IS WHAT WE WERE GIVEN. AFTER CHKING THE TAPES I FOUND THAT THIS WAS TRUE. THE WORD RWY HDG WAS SAID AFTER THE WORD RELEASE. I JUST HEARD THE WORD RELEASED AND GAVE THE LCL CTLR THAT INFO. FROM NOW ON I WILL REPEAT THEIR (NQX) INSTRUCTIONS SO AS NOT TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. I ALSO BELIEVE WHEN GIVEN RELEASES NQX SHOULD STATE HDG BEFORE THE WORD RELEASED.

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.

Tower issued wrong heading to air carrier departure off eyw, visual separation used so no separation loss.