Flight crew finds it difficult to observe traffic outside the flight deck during a busy departure.

Attributes
ACN	344404
Time
Date	199608
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : las
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 17000
ASRS Report	344404
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The oveto 3 departure at las in its present form requires the pilot(south) to remain 'head down' throughout the departure in order to comply with the navigation requirements. Considering the fact that there is a substantial amount of traffic in the las area, it would seem prudent that one should keep his/her eyes outside as much as possible. This procedure does not allow much time for basic 'see and avoid' practice. Solution: simply remove part of the procedure. 070 degree heading to intercept the las 039 degree radial will comply with all restrs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO OBSERVE TFC OUTSIDE THE FLT DECK DURING A BUSY DEP.

Narrative: THE OVETO 3 DEP AT LAS IN ITS PRESENT FORM REQUIRES THE PLT(S) TO REMAIN 'HEAD DOWN' THROUGHOUT THE DEP IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE NAV REQUIREMENTS. CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TFC IN THE LAS AREA, IT WOULD SEEM PRUDENT THAT ONE SHOULD KEEP HIS/HER EYES OUTSIDE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THIS PROC DOES NOT ALLOW MUCH TIME FOR BASIC 'SEE AND AVOID' PRACTICE. SOLUTION: SIMPLY REMOVE PART OF THE PROC. 070 DEG HDG TO INTERCEPT THE LAS 039 DEG RADIAL WILL COMPLY WITH ALL RESTRS.

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.