Heading track deviation during SID departure procedure.

Attributes
ACN	205850
Time
Date	199203
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	205850
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Worth 5 dfw was assigned by ATC along with the amarillo transition. The 18L runway was assigned for takeoff. The SID calls for a '170 degree heading for vector to appropriate route.' tower gave this clearance, 'cleared for takeoff, fly heading 170 degrees and maintain 10000 ft.' the heading and altitude are a repeat of the SID (same as) and lead to the 274 degree radial off dfw VORTAC (ama transition). Upon intercept of the ama transition radial (274 degree), I informed the captain that we had intercepted our route and should turn to a 274 degree heading to track. During the turn, departure asked our heading and when informed that we were turning to intercept the ama transition; departure instructed us to maintain a 170 degree heading which was promptly done. If no heading had been given along with the takeoff clearance it is clear that a 170 degree heading should be maintained until 'a vector to appropriate route' is assigned. If the word maintain had been issued with the heading (ie -- 'cleared for takeoff maintain heading 170') it is clear to hold a 170 degree heading. I understood the 'fly 170 degree heading' as our 'vector to appropriate route' as stated in the assigned SID.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HDG TRACK DEV DURING SID DEP PROC.

Narrative: WORTH 5 DFW WAS ASSIGNED BY ATC ALONG WITH THE AMARILLO TRANSITION. THE 18L RWY WAS ASSIGNED FOR TKOF. THE SID CALLS FOR A '170 DEG HDG FOR VECTOR TO APPROPRIATE RTE.' TWR GAVE THIS CLRNC, 'CLRED FOR TKOF, FLY HDG 170 DEGS AND MAINTAIN 10000 FT.' THE HDG AND ALT ARE A REPEAT OF THE SID (SAME AS) AND LEAD TO THE 274 DEG RADIAL OFF DFW VORTAC (AMA TRANSITION). UPON INTERCEPT OF THE AMA TRANSITION RADIAL (274 DEG), I INFORMED THE CAPT THAT WE HAD INTERCEPTED OUR RTE AND SHOULD TURN TO A 274 DEG HDG TO TRACK. DURING THE TURN, DEP ASKED OUR HDG AND WHEN INFORMED THAT WE WERE TURNING TO INTERCEPT THE AMA TRANSITION; DEP INSTRUCTED US TO MAINTAIN A 170 DEG HDG WHICH WAS PROMPTLY DONE. IF NO HDG HAD BEEN GIVEN ALONG WITH THE TKOF CLRNC IT IS CLR THAT A 170 DEG HDG SHOULD BE MAINTAINED UNTIL 'A VECTOR TO APPROPRIATE RTE' IS ASSIGNED. IF THE WORD MAINTAIN HAD BEEN ISSUED WITH THE HDG (IE -- 'CLRED FOR TKOF MAINTAIN HDG 170') IT IS CLR TO HOLD A 170 DEG HDG. I UNDERSTOOD THE 'FLY 170 DEG HDG' AS OUR 'VECTOR TO APPROPRIATE RTE' AS STATED IN THE ASSIGNED SID.

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.