Track deviation discovered when crew advised by tower they were turning in the wrong direction.

Attributes
ACN	517190
Time
Date	200107
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hou.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lfpg.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	517190
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

When cleared for takeoff on runway 15L at iah, we were told to make a right turn to heading 360 degrees. The captain set the heading bug and we proceeded to take off. At 400 ft, the captain called for heading select, I pulled the knob and the v-bars were promptly followed. Error was not discovered until tower brought it to our attention. To avoid a recurrence, it would be best to set the heading bug for a r-hand turn of less than 180 degrees. Then, once well into the turn, set the bug to the desired heading (in this case, 360 degrees).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEV DISCOVERED WHEN CREW ADVISED BY TWR THEY WERE TURNING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

Narrative: WHEN CLRED FOR TKOF ON RWY 15L AT IAH, WE WERE TOLD TO MAKE A R TURN TO HDG 360 DEGS. THE CAPT SET THE HDG BUG AND WE PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF. AT 400 FT, THE CAPT CALLED FOR HDG SELECT, I PULLED THE KNOB AND THE V-BARS WERE PROMPTLY FOLLOWED. ERROR WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL TWR BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTN. TO AVOID A RECURRENCE, IT WOULD BE BEST TO SET THE HDG BUG FOR A R-HAND TURN OF LESS THAN 180 DEGS. THEN, ONCE WELL INTO THE TURN, SET THE BUG TO THE DESIRED HDG (IN THIS CASE, 360 DEGS).

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.