Narrative:

Takeoff clearance stated by tower controller just prior to takeoff roll was after clearing mountains turn left to 90 degrees, and after FL60 turn on course. My crew read back 'after clearing mountains turn to 90 degrees at FL60' and was acknowledged by the tower. Additionally we asked if the tower wanted us to fly the special departure procedure for runway 7, which states, immediate right turn to 180 degrees after departure. Again the tower responded affirmative. We commenced takeoff and after turning to 180 degrees and clear of mountains climbing to FL60 to start a turn to 90 degrees, the tower controller told us to make an immediate left turn as we were encroaching another aircraft's airspace. The controller then asked if we had complied with the departure instructions. I said affirmative and read back after passing FL60 we would turn to 90 degrees to intercept on course. The controller became very upset (disdainful in manner) and said 'the proper clearance was after clear of mountains turn left to 90 degrees -- after FL60, turn on course.' we apologized for the confusion and proceeded to destination, vc bird. I've dealt with many controllers over my yrs of flying and I have to say this man's attitude was the worst I've seen. Right after my incident, he was chewing out another commercial jet for not understanding a clearance. Sounds like controller burnout.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN LGT TURNED THE WRONG WAY AFTER TKOF CAUSING A LOSS OF STANDARD SEPARATION WITH ANOTHER ACFT DUE TO A MISUNDERSTANDING OF TWR INSTRUCTIONS.

Narrative: TKOF CLRNC STATED BY TWR CTLR JUST PRIOR TO TKOF ROLL WAS AFTER CLRING MOUNTAINS TURN L TO 90 DEGS, AND AFTER FL60 TURN ON COURSE. MY CREW READ BACK 'AFTER CLRING MOUNTAINS TURN TO 90 DEGS AT FL60' AND WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE TWR. ADDITIONALLY WE ASKED IF THE TWR WANTED US TO FLY THE SPECIAL DEP PROC FOR RWY 7, WHICH STATES, IMMEDIATE R TURN TO 180 DEGS AFTER DEP. AGAIN THE TWR RESPONDED AFFIRMATIVE. WE COMMENCED TKOF AND AFTER TURNING TO 180 DEGS AND CLR OF MOUNTAINS CLBING TO FL60 TO START A TURN TO 90 DEGS, THE TWR CTLR TOLD US TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE L TURN AS WE WERE ENCROACHING ANOTHER ACFT'S AIRSPACE. THE CTLR THEN ASKED IF WE HAD COMPLIED WITH THE DEP INSTRUCTIONS. I SAID AFFIRMATIVE AND READ BACK AFTER PASSING FL60 WE WOULD TURN TO 90 DEGS TO INTERCEPT ON COURSE. THE CTLR BECAME VERY UPSET (DISDAINFUL IN MANNER) AND SAID 'THE PROPER CLRNC WAS AFTER CLR OF MOUNTAINS TURN L TO 90 DEGS -- AFTER FL60, TURN ON COURSE.' WE APOLOGIZED FOR THE CONFUSION AND PROCEEDED TO DEST, VC BIRD. I'VE DEALT WITH MANY CTLRS OVER MY YRS OF FLYING AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS MAN'S ATTITUDE WAS THE WORST I'VE SEEN. RIGHT AFTER MY INCIDENT, HE WAS CHEWING OUT ANOTHER COMMERCIAL JET FOR NOT UNDERSTANDING A CLRNC. SOUNDS LIKE CTLR BURNOUT.

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.