Narrative:

I was the PF in the left seat. As we were taxiing out for department, the PNF received the clearance. The clearance was cleared to iah via gander three departure, direct topps, as filed. I asked 'are we cleared direct topps or via YQX3.' the PNF asked ground and we were cleared direct topps via the YQX3 departure. The departure reads to climb runway heading, or as assigned for vectors to assigned route. After takeoff, with gear and flaps up, I started a turn direct topps. When the PNF switched to departure control, the controller asked 'what is your heading?' he told us we were supposed to fly runway heading to 5000 ft and then direct topps. We had started the turn to topps around 2000 ft after departure. I have reread the SID several times and based on the clearance from clearance delivery, I feel we did what we were told. I do not see anything about runway heading to 5000 ft before any turns. The departure controller told us that 2-3 aircraft make the same mistake every month. I feel a note should be added to the SID, do not turn until reaching 5000 ft. That would clear up any confusion. There were no other aircraft in the area during the departure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A TRACK DEV ON THE GANDER THREE DEP CAUSED BY CONFUSION AS TO WHEN THE CHARTED HDG CAN BE CHANGED TO DIRECT TOWARD THE ASSIGNED FIX.

Narrative: I WAS THE PF IN THE L SEAT. AS WE WERE TAXIING OUT FOR DEPT, THE PNF RECEIVED THE CLRNC. THE CLRNC WAS CLRED TO IAH VIA GANDER THREE DEP, DIRECT TOPPS, AS FILED. I ASKED 'ARE WE CLRED DIRECT TOPPS OR VIA YQX3.' THE PNF ASKED GND AND WE WERE CLRED DIRECT TOPPS VIA THE YQX3 DEP. THE DEP READS TO CLB RWY HDG, OR AS ASSIGNED FOR VECTORS TO ASSIGNED RTE. AFTER TKOF, WITH GEAR AND FLAPS UP, I STARTED A TURN DIRECT TOPPS. WHEN THE PNF SWITCHED TO DEP CTL, THE CTLR ASKED 'WHAT IS YOUR HDG?' HE TOLD US WE WERE SUPPOSED TO FLY RWY HDG TO 5000 FT AND THEN DIRECT TOPPS. WE HAD STARTED THE TURN TO TOPPS AROUND 2000 FT AFTER DEP. I HAVE REREAD THE SID SEVERAL TIMES AND BASED ON THE CLRNC FROM CLRNC DELIVERY, I FEEL WE DID WHAT WE WERE TOLD. I DO NOT SEE ANYTHING ABOUT RWY HDG TO 5000 FT BEFORE ANY TURNS. THE DEP CTLR TOLD US THAT 2-3 ACFT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE EVERY MONTH. I FEEL A NOTE SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE SID, DO NOT TURN UNTIL REACHING 5000 FT. THAT WOULD CLR UP ANY CONFUSION. THERE WERE NO OTHER ACFT IN THE AREA DURING THE DEP.

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.