Narrative:

Shortly after takeoff, tower said, 'when possible, come to heading 090 degrees.' then passed me to ric departure. I continued to climb straight ahead, because the departure procedure at cho says climb to 4000 ft before turning at ILS 3 keep you at 3200 ft until interception. Ric repeated the same statement but, because I was only about 2500 ft, I continued straight. Shortly later, ric asked my heading. I replied 030 degrees. He said he showed 360 degrees and please come to 090 degrees. I said departure procedure said not to turn until 4000 ft and asked if I was above MVA (I was approximately 3000 ft). He said yes. I turned. What does 'when able' mean? When should you turn when you know the departure procedure, ILS minimum before intercept and the radar is about 60 mi away?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C182 PLT CONFIRMED HIS ATC HDG 'WHEN ABLE' WAS ABOVE THE MVA.

Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER TKOF, TWR SAID, 'WHEN POSSIBLE, COME TO HDG 090 DEGS.' THEN PASSED ME TO RIC DEP. I CONTINUED TO CLB STRAIGHT AHEAD, BECAUSE THE DEP PROC AT CHO SAYS CLB TO 4000 FT BEFORE TURNING AT ILS 3 KEEP YOU AT 3200 FT UNTIL INTERCEPTION. RIC REPEATED THE SAME STATEMENT BUT, BECAUSE I WAS ONLY ABOUT 2500 FT, I CONTINUED STRAIGHT. SHORTLY LATER, RIC ASKED MY HDG. I REPLIED 030 DEGS. HE SAID HE SHOWED 360 DEGS AND PLEASE COME TO 090 DEGS. I SAID DEP PROC SAID NOT TO TURN UNTIL 4000 FT AND ASKED IF I WAS ABOVE MVA (I WAS APPROX 3000 FT). HE SAID YES. I TURNED. WHAT DOES 'WHEN ABLE' MEAN? WHEN SHOULD YOU TURN WHEN YOU KNOW THE DEP PROC, ILS MINIMUM BEFORE INTERCEPT AND THE RADAR IS ABOUT 60 MI AWAY?

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.