Narrative:

On sunday; aircraft X (G200) was cleared onto runway 9; position and hold. I acknowledged and captain (mr X) moved the aircraft into position. As the previous aircraft cleared the runway from back-taxi; tower/departure 'cleared for takeoff; turn on course.' I acknowledged; we were both in terrain mode for GPWS on 10 mi scale. We talked about the mountain and towers straight ahead. We initiated takeoff and I thought the clearance negated the note in the takeoff section of commercial chart which stated; 'right-hand turn mandatory; hazard beacons on hills to east; must be visible.' conditions were clear/VMC; visibility 10+ mi; temperature 27 degrees; altimeter 30.03. We could both see the hills and towers. On takeoff; I told captain the closest turn would be left for on course (approximately 140 degrees versus 220 degrees to right). At no time were we any nearer the hills in the left turn than if we would have turned right. After approximately 90 degrees of turn; the controller said we 'were in a heap of trouble and we better say our best prayers.' I ask why and he replied; 'all turns are to the right.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A G200 CREW DEPARTED TNCM; FAILED TO MAKE A 'MANDATORY' R-HAND TURN AFTER TKOF; AND INSTEAD TURNED L DIRECT ON COURSE.

Narrative: ON SUNDAY; ACFT X (G200) WAS CLRED ONTO RWY 9; POS AND HOLD. I ACKNOWLEDGED AND CAPT (MR X) MOVED THE ACFT INTO POS. AS THE PREVIOUS ACFT CLRED THE RWY FROM BACK-TAXI; TWR/DEP 'CLRED FOR TKOF; TURN ON COURSE.' I ACKNOWLEDGED; WE WERE BOTH IN TERRAIN MODE FOR GPWS ON 10 MI SCALE. WE TALKED ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN AND TWRS STRAIGHT AHEAD. WE INITIATED TKOF AND I THOUGHT THE CLRNC NEGATED THE NOTE IN THE TKOF SECTION OF COMMERCIAL CHART WHICH STATED; 'R-HAND TURN MANDATORY; HAZARD BEACONS ON HILLS TO E; MUST BE VISIBLE.' CONDITIONS WERE CLR/VMC; VISIBILITY 10+ MI; TEMP 27 DEGS; ALTIMETER 30.03. WE COULD BOTH SEE THE HILLS AND TOWERS. ON TKOF; I TOLD CAPT THE CLOSEST TURN WOULD BE L FOR ON COURSE (APPROX 140 DEGS VERSUS 220 DEGS TO R). AT NO TIME WERE WE ANY NEARER THE HILLS IN THE L TURN THAN IF WE WOULD HAVE TURNED R. AFTER APPROX 90 DEGS OF TURN; THE CTLR SAID WE 'WERE IN A HEAP OF TROUBLE AND WE BETTER SAY OUR BEST PRAYERS.' I ASK WHY AND HE REPLIED; 'ALL TURNS ARE TO THE R.'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.