Narrative:

We filed an IFR flight plan from stl to bdl with a SID to rod as the end fix of the SID, the intersection twila as the starting point. This was programmed into our FMS along with the received en route clearance. I personally put toy VOR on our #1 navigation receiver, since it was the closest VOR in our direction of flight, but not into the FMS flight plan, since it was not part of the procedure. (On the previous flight I was in the right seat, or #2 position.) soon after takeoff and while configuring the aircraft for cruise flight, departure control told us to proceed direct to toy VOR. The PNF was confused as to were it was. I had pre-set it in the navigation radio #1, thought I had a needle on the standby RMI showing its direction and turned to follow its indication. I followed the incorrect (#2) needle (since I had been working that prior) and turned to a 160 degree heading. Departure control asked us where we were going. We replied to toy VOR. They stated it was on a 060 degree course and to turn left to proceed in that direction. I realized my error in following the #2 needle and now naved off the #1 until the FMS could be reprogrammed. 1) we were unfamiliar with stl airspace, and studied the SID prior to departure, yet were confused at a critical time during departure. I recommend ATC give a 'heading' to initially follow if taking an aircraft off a previously cleared course, especially right after takeoff. This is a critical phase of flight and crews are very busy reconfiguring the aircraft, insuring the aircraft is climbing and on course, not searching charts. 2) in the future 'I' will ask for a heading if cleared directly to a point I am not sure of (lesson learned!). 3) thanks for your great service to the aviation community.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CPR HS25 FLC TURNED TO THE WRONG HDG DURING THEIR DEP WHEN THEY RECEIVED A CLRNC DIRECT AND THE FO REFERRED TO THE WRONG INDICATION FOR HIS TURN TO A VOR. HOWEVER, THOUGH THE RPTR ADMITS HIS ERROR, HE FEELS THAT THE CTLR'S CHANGE OF ROUTING DURING A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT INCREASED THE FLC'S WORKLOAD AND REDUCED THE NORMAL TIME FOR THE CREW TO XCHK THEIR NAV.

Narrative: WE FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM STL TO BDL WITH A SID TO ROD AS THE END FIX OF THE SID, THE INTXN TWILA AS THE STARTING POINT. THIS WAS PROGRAMMED INTO OUR FMS ALONG WITH THE RECEIVED ENRTE CLRNC. I PERSONALLY PUT TOY VOR ON OUR #1 NAV RECEIVER, SINCE IT WAS THE CLOSEST VOR IN OUR DIRECTION OF FLT, BUT NOT INTO THE FMS FLT PLAN, SINCE IT WAS NOT PART OF THE PROC. (ON THE PREVIOUS FLT I WAS IN THE R SEAT, OR #2 POS.) SOON AFTER TKOF AND WHILE CONFIGURING THE ACFT FOR CRUISE FLT, DEP CTL TOLD US TO PROCEED DIRECT TO TOY VOR. THE PNF WAS CONFUSED AS TO WERE IT WAS. I HAD PRE-SET IT IN THE NAV RADIO #1, THOUGHT I HAD A NEEDLE ON THE STANDBY RMI SHOWING ITS DIRECTION AND TURNED TO FOLLOW ITS INDICATION. I FOLLOWED THE INCORRECT (#2) NEEDLE (SINCE I HAD BEEN WORKING THAT PRIOR) AND TURNED TO A 160 DEG HDG. DEP CTL ASKED US WHERE WE WERE GOING. WE REPLIED TO TOY VOR. THEY STATED IT WAS ON A 060 DEG COURSE AND TO TURN L TO PROCEED IN THAT DIRECTION. I REALIZED MY ERROR IN FOLLOWING THE #2 NEEDLE AND NOW NAVED OFF THE #1 UNTIL THE FMS COULD BE REPROGRAMMED. 1) WE WERE UNFAMILIAR WITH STL AIRSPACE, AND STUDIED THE SID PRIOR TO DEP, YET WERE CONFUSED AT A CRITICAL TIME DURING DEP. I RECOMMEND ATC GIVE A 'HDG' TO INITIALLY FOLLOW IF TAKING AN ACFT OFF A PREVIOUSLY CLRED COURSE, ESPECIALLY RIGHT AFTER TKOF. THIS IS A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT AND CREWS ARE VERY BUSY RECONFIGURING THE ACFT, INSURING THE ACFT IS CLBING AND ON COURSE, NOT SEARCHING CHARTS. 2) IN THE FUTURE 'I' WILL ASK FOR A HDG IF CLRED DIRECTLY TO A POINT I AM NOT SURE OF (LESSON LEARNED!). 3) THANKS FOR YOUR GREAT SVC TO THE AVIATION COMMUNITY.

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.