Narrative:

Utilizing controller pilot data link communications (cpdlc) out of laguardia; our manual suggests writing the clearance on the flight plan. I mention this to all the first officers. Many of them do not know this. With cpdlc there's no way to print the clearance. We were cleared to laguardia five departure coney transition. Since we are unable to print I mentioned we should write it on the flight plan; [but] the first officer did not. We went to the FMC; pulled up the laguardia five departure; [but] there were no transitions and no way to select runway 13. We were both puzzled so I suggested we'll just double check with tower or they will tell us what to do. Because 30 minutes had elapsed; we did not double check with tower on the clearance; they just cleared us for takeoff. Once airborne departure said 'were you given the coney departure?' I said no. My mistake; they gave us another heading [and] never mentioned anything else. My mistake for being nice; in the future I will demand the first officers write the clearance on the flight plans. However we are going paperless so where are you going to write these clearances?because of cpdlc on the 737 and the inability to print the clearance; there's not a directive outlined in our manual directing us what to do. Some first officers will take a picture on their phone of the clearance page on the cpdlc FMC. I suggest to most of the first officer's our [manual] requires us to write the clearance on the international flight plan and a domestic flight plan. Many of them doubt me on this; I usually have to pull out the manual and show them.this was my mistake for not catching the coney on the FMC; and [not] thoroughly reading the departure SID. Even though I asked the first officer to write the clearance on the flight plan; in the future I will demand the first officers do this! And failure to follow up with tower on departure instructions. Part of this is because we don't have said guidance on the new procedure of cpdlc clearances.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Captain reported a track deviation occurred when they misinterpreted the Controller Pilot Data link Communications (CPDLC) departure clearance.

Narrative: Utilizing Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) out of LaGuardia; our manual suggests writing the clearance on the flight plan. I mention this to all the First Officers. Many of them do not know this. With CPDLC there's no way to print the clearance. We were cleared to LAGUARDIA FIVE Departure Coney transition. Since we are unable to print I mentioned we should write it on the flight plan; [but] the First Officer did not. We went to the FMC; pulled up the LAGUARDIA FIVE Departure; [but] there were no transitions and no way to select Runway 13. We were both puzzled so I suggested we'll just double check with Tower or they will tell us what to do. Because 30 minutes had elapsed; we did not double check with Tower on the clearance; they just cleared us for takeoff. Once airborne Departure said 'were you given the Coney departure?' I said no. My mistake; they gave us another heading [and] never mentioned anything else. My mistake for being nice; in the future I will demand the First Officers write the clearance on the flight plans. However we are going paperless so where are you going to write these clearances?Because of CPDLC on the 737 and the inability to print the clearance; there's not a directive outlined in our manual directing us what to do. Some First Officers will take a picture on their phone of the clearance page on the CPDLC FMC. I suggest to most of the First Officer's our [manual] requires us to write the clearance on the international flight plan and a domestic flight plan. Many of them doubt me on this; I usually have to pull out the manual and show them.This was my mistake for not catching the Coney on the FMC; and [not] thoroughly reading the departure SID. Even though I asked the First Officer to write the clearance on the flight plan; in the future I will demand the First Officers do this! And failure to follow up with Tower on departure instructions. Part of this is because we don't have said guidance on the new procedure of CPDLC clearances.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.