Narrative:

Controller ambiguity during departure. Approaching musel during departure from sna to intercept sxc 061 degree radial per departure clearance. At 2500 ft, lax departure advises radar contact and turn left 130 heading to intercept sxc 061 degree radial. Immediately, controller revises clearance to 120 degree heading, expect thermal. After a short pause, controller issues 050 degree heading to intercept sxc 061 degree radial. We asked for confirmation and she replies sxc 061 degree radial was our clearance. No, 120 degree heading, expect thermal was our last clearance. Controller says that sxc 061 degree radial was our original clearance and we agree that it was our original but not the latest. At that time we switched controllers and again asked for clarification. Directed to 090 degree heading direct thermal, flight plan route. We respond that thermal was not on our route of flight. Assigned direct bza.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLC WAS HARD PRESSED TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE ROUTING CHANGES AFTER TKOF.

Narrative: CTLR AMBIGUITY DURING DEP. APCHING MUSEL DURING DEP FROM SNA TO INTERCEPT SXC 061 DEG RADIAL PER DEP CLRNC. AT 2500 FT, LAX DEP ADVISES RADAR CONTACT AND TURN L 130 HDG TO INTERCEPT SXC 061 DEG RADIAL. IMMEDIATELY, CTLR REVISES CLRNC TO 120 DEG HDG, EXPECT THERMAL. AFTER A SHORT PAUSE, CTLR ISSUES 050 DEG HDG TO INTERCEPT SXC 061 DEG RADIAL. WE ASKED FOR CONFIRMATION AND SHE REPLIES SXC 061 DEG RADIAL WAS OUR CLRNC. NO, 120 DEG HDG, EXPECT THERMAL WAS OUR LAST CLRNC. CTLR SAYS THAT SXC 061 DEG RADIAL WAS OUR ORIGINAL CLRNC AND WE AGREE THAT IT WAS OUR ORIGINAL BUT NOT THE LATEST. AT THAT TIME WE SWITCHED CTLRS AND AGAIN ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION. DIRECTED TO 090 DEG HDG DIRECT THERMAL, FLT PLAN RTE. WE RESPOND THAT THERMAL WAS NOT ON OUR RTE OF FLT. ASSIGNED DIRECT BZA.

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.