Narrative:

I was assigned the south departure position. Ord was departing 32lt10/32R/4L/9R and arriving runways 9R/9L/4R. Air carrier X checked on departure; climbing to 5000 ft. All appeared normal until I noticed air carrier X was on a northeast heading. When I took a closer look at the departure strip; the printed assigned heading was 070 degrees. There were 2 other departures within very close proximity. I know that there was less than 3 mi; but I don't know what the altitude separation was. It very well could have been less than 1000 ft. I climbed air carrier X to 6000 ft and then 13000 ft and topped the 2 other departures. When I asked air carrier X to verify the tower assigned heading; they said 040 degrees. So; not only was the departure strip heading wrong; the aircraft assigned heading was wrong and safety; in my opinion; was absolutely compromised. Something went very wrong in this situation. I know the FAA won't do anything about it; so I advised air carrier X that in the future; question what doesn't sound right for your route of flight. A northeast heading for a swbound departure is way off. I think it's good advice to all aviators to question what doesn't sound right; it could keep you safe!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C90 CTLR EXPERIENCED CONFLICT AT APPROX 5000 WITH DEP ACFT WHEN ONE WAS NOT ASSIGNED CORRECT HEADING BY THE TWR.

Narrative: I WAS ASSIGNED THE S DEP POS. ORD WAS DEPARTING 32LT10/32R/4L/9R AND ARRIVING RWYS 9R/9L/4R. ACR X CHKED ON DEP; CLBING TO 5000 FT. ALL APPEARED NORMAL UNTIL I NOTICED ACR X WAS ON A NE HDG. WHEN I TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DEP STRIP; THE PRINTED ASSIGNED HDG WAS 070 DEGS. THERE WERE 2 OTHER DEPS WITHIN VERY CLOSE PROX. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS LESS THAN 3 MI; BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ALT SEPARATION WAS. IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN LESS THAN 1000 FT. I CLBED ACR X TO 6000 FT AND THEN 13000 FT AND TOPPED THE 2 OTHER DEPS. WHEN I ASKED ACR X TO VERIFY THE TWR ASSIGNED HDG; THEY SAID 040 DEGS. SO; NOT ONLY WAS THE DEP STRIP HDG WRONG; THE ACFT ASSIGNED HDG WAS WRONG AND SAFETY; IN MY OPINION; WAS ABSOLUTELY COMPROMISED. SOMETHING WENT VERY WRONG IN THIS SIT. I KNOW THE FAA WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT; SO I ADVISED ACR X THAT IN THE FUTURE; QUESTION WHAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT FOR YOUR RTE OF FLT. A NE HDG FOR A SWBOUND DEP IS WAY OFF. I THINK IT'S GOOD ADVICE TO ALL AVIATORS TO QUESTION WHAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT; IT COULD KEEP YOU SAFE!

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.