Narrative:

Refer to copy of enclosed clt SID-hornet one. Flight from clt to ord, our clearance was clt-bzm-hmv-flm-124-vhp-bvt-V7-ord. And utilizing the hornet one SID/stann gate. Departed runway 36L and intercepted the 347 degree right as instructed by atl ATC then flew 50 NM on the clt 347 degree. At the 50 NM 'gate', I proceeded as filed toward hmv. Approximately 30 mi past the 'gate', atl ATC issued a frequency change to another atl ATC controller. 10 mins or so later ATC asked my heading and issued a 315 degree heading for flm then as filed. About 5 mins later same ATC controller asked if a previous controller had issued clearance to hmv. I advised that I had proceeded as filed to hmv when I passed the 50 NM gate as per the SID. The controller advised that I was supposed to remain on the 347 degree right indefinitely. I advised that I interpreted the SID to proceed to the next filed fix after passing the gate since a vector gate was assigned. I advised the atl controller that I would contact my company and advise them of this ambiguous SID, another controller's voice replied that the SID was 'ambiguous, it was being rewritten and not to worry about it'. I assume that the different controller was the supervisor. Comments: on the SID, why are there gates and the 50 NM ring? Instead, why not just assign the right and 'expect vector'? Why didn't the first atl ATC controller advise me when I made the turn at the '50 NM gate' that I was in error? Why didn't the same ATC controller catch my heading when she issued a frequency change some 30 NM past the 'gate'? What would you do if you lost radio communications and the SID shows instructions for propeller aircraft only and you're flying an medium large transport jet! I would have done the same thing I did that day!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER SHOULD HAVE MAINTAINED NAVIGATION ON THE CLT 347 DEG RADIAL. INSTEAD, HE PROCEEDED DIRECT TO HMV AFTER PASSING THE 50 MILE GATE.

Narrative: REFER TO COPY OF ENCLOSED CLT SID-HORNET ONE. FLT FROM CLT TO ORD, OUR CLRNC WAS CLT-BZM-HMV-FLM-124-VHP-BVT-V7-ORD. AND UTILIZING THE HORNET ONE SID/STANN GATE. DEPARTED RWY 36L AND INTERCEPTED THE 347 DEG R AS INSTRUCTED BY ATL ATC THEN FLEW 50 NM ON THE CLT 347 DEG. AT THE 50 NM 'GATE', I PROCEEDED AS FILED TOWARD HMV. APPROX 30 MI PAST THE 'GATE', ATL ATC ISSUED A FREQ CHANGE TO ANOTHER ATL ATC CTLR. 10 MINS OR SO LATER ATC ASKED MY HDG AND ISSUED A 315 DEG HDG FOR FLM THEN AS FILED. ABOUT 5 MINS LATER SAME ATC CTLR ASKED IF A PREVIOUS CTLR HAD ISSUED CLRNC TO HMV. I ADVISED THAT I HAD PROCEEDED AS FILED TO HMV WHEN I PASSED THE 50 NM GATE AS PER THE SID. THE CTLR ADVISED THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO REMAIN ON THE 347 DEG R INDEFINITELY. I ADVISED THAT I INTERPRETED THE SID TO PROCEED TO THE NEXT FILED FIX AFTER PASSING THE GATE SINCE A VECTOR GATE WAS ASSIGNED. I ADVISED THE ATL CTLR THAT I WOULD CONTACT MY COMPANY AND ADVISE THEM OF THIS AMBIGUOUS SID, ANOTHER CTLR'S VOICE REPLIED THAT THE SID WAS 'AMBIGUOUS, IT WAS BEING REWRITTEN AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT'. I ASSUME THAT THE DIFFERENT CTLR WAS THE SUPVR. COMMENTS: ON THE SID, WHY ARE THERE GATES AND THE 50 NM RING? INSTEAD, WHY NOT JUST ASSIGN THE R AND 'EXPECT VECTOR'? WHY DIDN'T THE FIRST ATL ATC CTLR ADVISE ME WHEN I MADE THE TURN AT THE '50 NM GATE' THAT I WAS IN ERROR? WHY DIDN'T THE SAME ATC CTLR CATCH MY HDG WHEN SHE ISSUED A FREQ CHANGE SOME 30 NM PAST THE 'GATE'? WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU LOST RADIO COMS AND THE SID SHOWS INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROP ACFT ONLY AND YOU'RE FLYING AN MLG JET! I WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING I DID THAT DAY!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.