Tower flight crew clearance confusion.

Attributes
ACN	312270
Time
Date	199508
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : btv
State Reference	VT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : btv
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : military pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	312270
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : military pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departure clearance was 'burlington 4 departure.' tower gave 'cleared for takeoff runway 15' with no heading assigned. We flew runway 15 procedure direct to VOR right turn and then on course versus 'runway heading.' tower expected us on runway heading, not to fly the non-radar procedure. Confusion on clearance, instructions, and expectations. Concerned with terrain off runway heading and initiated right turn. Unable to contact ATC for about 30 seconds, then deviation told us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TWR FLC CLRNC CONFUSION.

Narrative: DEP CLRNC WAS 'BURLINGTON 4 DEP.' TWR GAVE 'CLRED FOR TKOF RWY 15' WITH NO HDG ASSIGNED. WE FLEW RWY 15 PROC DIRECT TO VOR R TURN AND THEN ON COURSE VERSUS 'RWY HDG.' TWR EXPECTED US ON RWY HDG, NOT TO FLY THE NON-RADAR PROC. CONFUSION ON CLRNC, INSTRUCTIONS, AND EXPECTATIONS. CONCERNED WITH TERRAIN OFF RWY HDG AND INITIATED R TURN. UNABLE TO CONTACT ATC FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS, THEN DEV TOLD US.

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.