Narrative:

While working local east 1; I cleared air carrier X for takeoff on runway 17R for a RNAV departure and issued 'air carrier X; RNAV to navye; runway 17R; cleared for takeoff'; which the pilot acknowledged. As soon as an ARTS data tag acquired on air carrier X; I switched the aircraft to departure control; basing my separation on the succeeding aircraft with air carrier X's mileage south of dfw airport. Shortly thereafter; I observed that air carrier X was not turning left to join the RNAV departure and I immediately contacted departure radar 1 at D10 and asked 'is air carrier X turning left to join the RNAV departure?' the DR1 controller hesitated briefly and then issued a heading of 080 to air carrier X. At the time; there was traffic abeam air carrier X which had departed dfw's west complex; but I do not recall the exact altitude of either aircraft; only the lateral proximity which appeared to be decreasing as air carrier X appeared to drift slowly right of course. Recommendation; it would have been helpful to lengthen my scan toward the departure end of the runway to ensure that air carrier X was indeed commencing the appropriate slight left hand turn toward the RNAV fix. It would also have been of assistance to have the local assist position staffed to assist with my scanning responsibilities; as this is the regular configuration during a day shift such as this; but due to staffing; that position was not staffed. We seem caught in a contradictory arrangement with the RNAV departures; i.e.; we must switch the departures to the departure controller as soon as possible; but also attempt to ensure that the aircraft is actually turning in the correct direction. Sometimes; due to aircraft climb performance; the timing of the ARTS data tag acquire; and scan of the entire airport; accomplishing this simultaneously can be awkward; hence; the reason for staffing the local assist 1 position. But; primarily; my attempted solution in the future will be to maintain a visual scan on the RNAV departure to attempt to ensure a turn.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DFW controller described a loss of separation event between departures when a CRJ200 departing Runway 17R failed to turn onto the RNAV SID; the flight crew indicating FMS did not capture course.

Narrative: While working Local East 1; I cleared Air Carrier X for takeoff on Runway 17R for a RNAV departure and issued 'Air Carrier X; RNAV to NAVYE; Runway 17R; cleared for takeoff'; which the pilot acknowledged. As soon as an ARTS data tag acquired on Air Carrier X; I switched the aircraft to Departure Control; basing my separation on the succeeding aircraft with Air Carrier X's mileage south of DFW Airport. Shortly thereafter; I observed that Air Carrier X was not turning left to join the RNAV departure and I immediately contacted Departure Radar 1 at D10 and asked 'Is Air Carrier X turning left to join the RNAV departure?' The DR1 Controller hesitated briefly and then issued a heading of 080 to Air Carrier X. At the time; there was traffic abeam Air Carrier X which had departed DFW's West Complex; but I do not recall the exact altitude of either aircraft; only the lateral proximity which appeared to be decreasing as Air Carrier X appeared to drift slowly right of course. Recommendation; it would have been helpful to lengthen my scan toward the departure end of the runway to ensure that Air Carrier X was indeed commencing the appropriate slight left hand turn toward the RNAV fix. It would also have been of assistance to have the Local Assist position staffed to assist with my scanning responsibilities; as this is the regular configuration during a day shift such as this; but due to staffing; that position was not staffed. We seem caught in a contradictory arrangement with the RNAV departures; i.e.; we must switch the departures to the Departure Controller as soon as possible; but also attempt to ensure that the aircraft IS actually turning in the correct direction. Sometimes; due to aircraft climb performance; the timing of the ARTS data tag acquire; and scan of the entire airport; accomplishing this simultaneously can be awkward; hence; the reason for staffing the Local Assist 1 position. But; primarily; my attempted solution in the future will be to maintain a visual scan ON the RNAV departure to attempt to ensure a turn.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.