Light transport was issued departure heading toward a 2000' obstruction tower.

Attributes
ACN	105659
Time
Date	198903
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dec
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cmi tower : dec
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
ASRS Report	105659
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

At approximately XX30Z (XX30 local) I coordinated the departure release of light transport with cmi approach (our radar approach control). Initially I coordinated the rls off of runway 30 and the radar controller told me to turn aircraft right to a heading of 360 degrees. I then verified the 360 degree heading and was instructed, 'yes, 360.' my tower chief was on duty at the time and I then verified the 360 degree heading with him. He instructed me to do whatever the radar controller said. Because of time to taxi I had to change the departure runway to runway 36. I then recoordinated the rls and was instructed to have the aircraft fly runway heading and to maintain 9000'. I again verified the heading with my boss and was told to do whatever the radar controller said. 7 mi north of decatur is a 2000' tower. Because of this we have always avoided putting planes on a northerly heading. In fact, there has been a wedge of airspace from 340-050 degrees north of dec that we avoid. Also the IFR departure procedure avoids this area. Enclosed is a map, approach plate and the IFR departure procedure. I feel the radar controller and my tower chief compromised the safety of this flight and wish someone would look into the matter. This does not need to be confidential. Dec is a level 1 VFR tower. Cmi tower/approach control is located approximately 40 me northeast of dec. We do not have radar to the ground.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LTT WAS ISSUED DEP HEADING TOWARD A 2000' OBSTRUCTION TWR.

Narrative: AT APPROX XX30Z (XX30 LCL) I COORDINATED THE DEP RELEASE OF LTT WITH CMI APCH (OUR RADAR APCH CTL). INITIALLY I COORDINATED THE RLS OFF OF RWY 30 AND THE RADAR CTLR TOLD ME TO TURN ACFT RIGHT TO A HDG OF 360 DEGS. I THEN VERIFIED THE 360 DEG HDG AND WAS INSTRUCTED, 'YES, 360.' MY TWR CHIEF WAS ON DUTY AT THE TIME AND I THEN VERIFIED THE 360 DEG HDG WITH HIM. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO DO WHATEVER THE RADAR CTLR SAID. BECAUSE OF TIME TO TAXI I HAD TO CHANGE THE DEP RWY TO RWY 36. I THEN RECOORDINATED THE RLS AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO HAVE THE ACFT FLY RWY HDG AND TO MAINTAIN 9000'. I AGAIN VERIFIED THE HDG WITH MY BOSS AND WAS TOLD TO DO WHATEVER THE RADAR CTLR SAID. 7 MI N OF DECATUR IS A 2000' TWR. BECAUSE OF THIS WE HAVE ALWAYS AVOIDED PUTTING PLANES ON A NORTHERLY HDG. IN FACT, THERE HAS BEEN A WEDGE OF AIRSPACE FROM 340-050 DEGS N OF DEC THAT WE AVOID. ALSO THE IFR DEP PROC AVOIDS THIS AREA. ENCLOSED IS A MAP, APCH PLATE AND THE IFR DEP PROC. I FEEL THE RADAR CTLR AND MY TWR CHIEF COMPROMISED THE SAFETY OF THIS FLT AND WISH SOMEONE WOULD LOOK INTO THE MATTER. THIS DOES NOT NEED TO BE CONFIDENTIAL. DEC IS A LEVEL 1 VFR TWR. CMI TWR/APCH CTL IS LOCATED APPROX 40 ME NE OF DEC. WE DO NOT HAVE RADAR TO THE GND.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.