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.

Date: 2011-08 · Aircraft: A320 · Phase: climb

Anomalies: atc-issue-all-types|deviation-track-heading-all-types|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-clearance|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

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.

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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.