Narrative:

The new (jul/xx/97) arthur kill 1 departure from ewr (ewr 10-3) is very poorly depicted on the 10-3 SID page. Instructions to intercept the sbj 100 degree radial are not depicted on the graphic plan view, but are buried only between 2 sections of the text version. The 'thence' text of, for example, the biggy transition, implies we should expect vectors to the sbj 237 degree radial. The old 'ewr 6 SID' is similar to 'arthur kill 1' in graphic depiction and text, but requires a 220 degree heading after ijnn 2.3 DME, instead of the 250 degree heading on arthur kill 1, and does not require a radial intercept. This has been the normal departure procedure for yrs at ewr. We took off from ewr using arthur kill 1 departure, winding up on a 250 degree heading during climb out, expecting radar vectors. However, departure control complained we were not complying with the departure track, and gave us heading changes to intercept the sbj 100 degree radial. Before switching off his frequency, we heard 2 flts departing behind us make the same mistake, maintaining a 250 degree heading, instead of intercepting the sbj 100 degree radial. The controller was audibly (and increasingly) agitated, with each successive departure. We strongly believe the graphic depiction of this departure should be redrawn to show a clear requirement to fly a ground track to intercept the sbj 100 degree radial from the initial 250 degree heading.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG, WHILE FLYING THE EWR ARTHUR KILL 1 SID, MISREAD CHART AND FAILED TO NOTICE THEY WERE TO INTERCEPT THE SBJ 100 DEG RADIAL. RPTR CITES POOR CHART DESIGN. THEY WERE EXPECTING VECTORS.

Narrative: THE NEW (JUL/XX/97) ARTHUR KILL 1 DEP FROM EWR (EWR 10-3) IS VERY POORLY DEPICTED ON THE 10-3 SID PAGE. INSTRUCTIONS TO INTERCEPT THE SBJ 100 DEG RADIAL ARE NOT DEPICTED ON THE GRAPHIC PLAN VIEW, BUT ARE BURIED ONLY BTWN 2 SECTIONS OF THE TEXT VERSION. THE 'THENCE' TEXT OF, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BIGGY TRANSITION, IMPLIES WE SHOULD EXPECT VECTORS TO THE SBJ 237 DEG RADIAL. THE OLD 'EWR 6 SID' IS SIMILAR TO 'ARTHUR KILL 1' IN GRAPHIC DEPICTION AND TEXT, BUT REQUIRES A 220 DEG HDG AFTER IJNN 2.3 DME, INSTEAD OF THE 250 DEG HDG ON ARTHUR KILL 1, AND DOES NOT REQUIRE A RADIAL INTERCEPT. THIS HAS BEEN THE NORMAL DEP PROC FOR YRS AT EWR. WE TOOK OFF FROM EWR USING ARTHUR KILL 1 DEP, WINDING UP ON A 250 DEG HDG DURING CLBOUT, EXPECTING RADAR VECTORS. HOWEVER, DEP CTL COMPLAINED WE WERE NOT COMPLYING WITH THE DEP TRACK, AND GAVE US HDG CHANGES TO INTERCEPT THE SBJ 100 DEG RADIAL. BEFORE SWITCHING OFF HIS FREQ, WE HEARD 2 FLTS DEPARTING BEHIND US MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE, MAINTAINING A 250 DEG HDG, INSTEAD OF INTERCEPTING THE SBJ 100 DEG RADIAL. THE CTLR WAS AUDIBLY (AND INCREASINGLY) AGITATED, WITH EACH SUCCESSIVE DEP. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THE GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF THIS DEP SHOULD BE REDRAWN TO SHOW A CLR REQUIREMENT TO FLY A GND TRACK TO INTERCEPT THE SBJ 100 DEG RADIAL FROM THE INITIAL 250 DEG HDG.

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.