Sfo controller described a near conflict event when traffic departing runway 1R started a wrong turn...

Narrative:

An A320 departed runway 1R on the SFO8 SID-heading 030; a CRJ2 departed runway 1L on the Porte3 SID-intercept SFO350R; when upwind; local control transferred their communications to norcal departure. Both aircraft appeared to be turning appropriately while this was taking place. A conversation was happening on the other side of local control; when I looked back the A320 aircraft appeared to be flying the Cuit2 SID-SFO011R to 4 DME then would be a left turn into the CRJ2. I called the CI1 position and advised them; they in turn advised the sector controller to turn the A320 right. At this time; the A320 was at about 3 DME. The flight plan had a preferential departure route of: +SFO8 sfo.lin jsica…; while the company had filed: ksfo CUIT2 lin Q128... I think it is entirely possible that the crew misread their clearance. Recommendation; find a way to eliminate the possibility of misreading the pre-departure clearances; although they are a very valuable tool for reducing frequency congestion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SFO Controller described a near conflict event when traffic departing Runway 1R started a wrong turn toward a Runway 1L aircraft; allegedly due to mis-reading the PDC clearance.

Narrative: An A320 departed Runway 1R on the SFO8 SID-heading 030; a CRJ2 departed Runway 1L on the Porte3 SID-intercept SFO350R; when upwind; Local Control transferred their communications to NorCal Departure. Both aircraft appeared to be turning appropriately while this was taking place. A conversation was happening on the other side of Local Control; when I looked back the A320 aircraft appeared to be flying the Cuit2 SID-SFO011R to 4 DME then would be a left turn into the CRJ2. I called the CI1 position and advised them; they in turn advised the Sector Controller to turn the A320 right. At this time; the A320 was at about 3 DME. The flight plan had a preferential departure route of: +SFO8 SFO.LIN JSICA…; while the company had filed: KSFO CUIT2 LIN Q128... I think it is entirely possible that the crew misread their clearance. Recommendation; find a way to eliminate the possibility of misreading the Pre-Departure Clearances; although they are a very valuable tool for reducing frequency congestion.

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.

Attributes
ACN	964938
Time
Date	201108
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	SFO.Tower
State Reference	CA
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	SID SFO 8
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	SID PORTE 3
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Sfo controller described a near conflict event when traffic departing runway 1R started a wrong turn toward a runway 1L aircraft; allegedly due to mis-reading the pre departure clearance clearance.