Aircraft light track heading deviation on vector departure from NAS.
Synopsis
Aircraft light track heading deviation on vector departure from NAS.
Narrative
Rewritten in plain English from NASA’s original all-caps telegraphic report — facts, figures, and terminology preserved.
On departure, initial contact with Nassau departure; we were assigned a climb to 12000 feet MSL and a right turn. I heard and read back 'climb to 12000 feet right turn to 340 degrees.' The controller made no further comment, and the captain turned to 340 degrees, climbed to 12000 feet.
At 12000 feet, I questioned departure on whether we should intercept airway BR22V from that heading as we had already passed through it. He replied that we had been assigned heading 230 degrees but had flown 330 degrees, so we should turn back to 300 degrees to intercept BR22V. I told him we had heard and read back 340 degrees. He replied that 'that was the other controller.'
Conclusion: Radio communications are less than optimum at Nassau. Listen and question heading and altitude assignments. Controllers must provide more effective 'hearback'. Too often they don't listen when their instructions are repeated and don't catch errors.
Show the original NASA report (verbatim, telegraphic)
ON DEP INITIAL CONTACT WITH NASSAU DEP; WE WERE ASSIGNED A CLB TO 12000 FT MSL AND A R TURN. I HEARD AND READ BACK 'CLB TO 12000 FT R TURN TO 340 DEG.' THE CTLR MADE NO FURTHER COMMENT; AND THE CAPT TURNED TO 340 DEG; CLBED TO 12000 FT. AT 12000 FT I QUESTIONED DEP ON WHETHER WE SHOULD INTERCEPT ARWY BR22V FROM THAT HDG AS WE HAD ALREADY PASSED THROUGH IT. HE REPLIED THAT WE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED HDG 230 DEG BUT HAD FLOWN 330 DEG; SO WE SHOULD TURN BACK TO 300 DEG TO INTERCEPT BR22V. I TOLD HIM WE HAD HEARD AND READ BACK 340 DEG. HE REPLIED THAT 'THAT WAS THE OTHER CTLR.' CONCLUSION: RADIO XMISSIONS ARE LESS THAN OPTIMUM AT NASSAU. LISTEN AND QUESTION HDG AND ALT ASSIGNMENTS. CTLRS MUST PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE 'HEARBACK'. TOO OFTEN THEY DON'T LISTEN WHEN THEIR INSTRUCTIONS ARE REPEATED AND DON'T CATCH ERRORS.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.