Confusion over ATC phraseology in a foreign country.

Attributes
ACN	294490
Time
Date	199501
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lgw
State Reference	FO
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : lgw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 255 flight time total : 15560 flight time type : 678
ASRS Report	294490
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Departure procedure issued by ATC stated 'straight ahead until igg 3.5 DME, turn left, 052 degree track to intercept det R-261 inbound by D19 det.' flew runway heading to 3.5 DME of igg then turned left to 052 degree heading. Strong south wind was blowing across the airport during our departure. Shortly after turning to 052 degree heading, departure issued 'turn right to 115 degree heading.' I wondered if we had been blown off the track departure control expected us to fly. In the united states of america, departures say runway heading, ILS back course or VOR radial. The phraseology 'straight ahead to 3.5 DME igg' has me asking 'do they expect us to fly the ILS back course, a track over the ground, or runway heading?' obviously, in no wind sits, this is not a problem, but still the wording is not clear as to what is expected. Recommend clarification of wording and intent by more specific instructions, particularly in foreign countries.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSION OVER ATC PHRASEOLOGY IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY.

Narrative: DEP PROC ISSUED BY ATC STATED 'STRAIGHT AHEAD UNTIL IGG 3.5 DME, TURN L, 052 DEG TRACK TO INTERCEPT DET R-261 INBOUND BY D19 DET.' FLEW RWY HDG TO 3.5 DME OF IGG THEN TURNED L TO 052 DEG HDG. STRONG S WIND WAS BLOWING ACROSS THE ARPT DURING OUR DEP. SHORTLY AFTER TURNING TO 052 DEG HDG, DEP ISSUED 'TURN R TO 115 DEG HDG.' I WONDERED IF WE HAD BEEN BLOWN OFF THE TRACK DEP CTL EXPECTED US TO FLY. IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DEPS SAY RWY HDG, ILS BACK COURSE OR VOR RADIAL. THE PHRASEOLOGY 'STRAIGHT AHEAD TO 3.5 DME IGG' HAS ME ASKING 'DO THEY EXPECT US TO FLY THE ILS BACK COURSE, A TRACK OVER THE GND, OR RWY HDG?' OBVIOUSLY, IN NO WIND SITS, THIS IS NOT A PROB, BUT STILL THE WORDING IS NOT CLR AS TO WHAT IS EXPECTED. RECOMMEND CLARIFICATION OF WORDING AND INTENT BY MORE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS, PARTICULARLY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

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.