A319 departing iah makes right turn 120 degrees, ATC contends a left 120 degree heading was issued.

Attributes
ACN	572034
Time
Date	200301
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iah.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl single value : 400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : iah.tower tracon : a80.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : on vectors departure sid : bpt 3
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	572034
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 16400 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	571902
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

We received ATC clearance via ACARS for the bpt 3 SID off runway 33. This SID says 'fly assigned heading for vector...' off all runways. While approaching runway 33R, we were cleared by the tower for takeoff and told to fly heading 120 degrees. I believe I heard and read back 'cleared for takeoff on runway 33R, turn right to heading 120 degrees.' this is also what the captain heard. After takeoff and turning right to 120 degrees, the tower called and said he told us to 'turn left to 120 degrees' and to now fly heading 140 degrees. I responded that I thought I read back 'right to 120 degrees.' we were VFR and I am not aware of any traffic conflict. I believe that clearing an aircraft for takeoff from a 'right' or 'left' runway to a 'right' or 'left' heading is a recipe for misunderstanding -- especially when neither is emphasized on reading. In addition, if this is standard procedure at iah, then it should be made a part of the original ATC clearance, so that it may be anticipated and prepared for prior to reaching the runway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 DEPARTING IAH MAKES R TURN 120 DEGS, ATC CONTENDS A L 120 DEG HDG WAS ISSUED.

Narrative: WE RECEIVED ATC CLRNC VIA ACARS FOR THE BPT 3 SID OFF RWY 33. THIS SID SAYS 'FLY ASSIGNED HDG FOR VECTOR...' OFF ALL RWYS. WHILE APCHING RWY 33R, WE WERE CLRED BY THE TWR FOR TKOF AND TOLD TO FLY HDG 120 DEGS. I BELIEVE I HEARD AND READ BACK 'CLRED FOR TKOF ON RWY 33R, TURN R TO HDG 120 DEGS.' THIS IS ALSO WHAT THE CAPT HEARD. AFTER TKOF AND TURNING R TO 120 DEGS, THE TWR CALLED AND SAID HE TOLD US TO 'TURN L TO 120 DEGS' AND TO NOW FLY HDG 140 DEGS. I RESPONDED THAT I THOUGHT I READ BACK 'R TO 120 DEGS.' WE WERE VFR AND I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY TFC CONFLICT. I BELIEVE THAT CLRING AN ACFT FOR TKOF FROM A 'R' OR 'L' RWY TO A 'R' OR 'L' HDG IS A RECIPE FOR MISUNDERSTANDING -- ESPECIALLY WHEN NEITHER IS EMPHASIZED ON READING. IN ADDITION, IF THIS IS STANDARD PROC AT IAH, THEN IT SHOULD BE MADE A PART OF THE ORIGINAL ATC CLRNC, SO THAT IT MAY BE ANTICIPATED AND PREPARED FOR PRIOR TO REACHING THE RWY.

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.