Narrative:

On a recent flight from ewr to ric, I noticed a potential hazard which I felt should be reported. It has to do with ewr 3 departure. Our flight plan called for the ewr SID--white J209 sby V1 CCC hpw ric. We were cleared as filed. Our navigation was set up to take us to the white intersection. This is a somewhat complicated departure. Our takeoff from runway 4L called for a turn to 060 degrees until crossing the canarsie 327 degree right followed by a left turn to 290 degree heading. Thence via vector to assigned route/fix. This fix was the white intersection formed by the col 204 degree right and cyn 046 degree right. After takeoff we were told to intercept the col 350 degree right col col 204 degree right on course. I was expecting to receive vectors to white. My intention in sending in this report was to discuss the disadvantages of going head down in the cockpit to reprogram the FMC to the new clearance which could have been done before takeoff. Instead, after reading the departure again in preparation for writing this report, I find in the small print above the takeoff section, that it says to expect vectors to the col 350 degree right. So, now I am writing to say that the plate should be changed to be more clear. Perhaps the intersection should be in bold letters or even like the lga departures which have the runway and climb fix together. I feel that this departure is not well written and that is why I am filing this report.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW REVIEW OF EWR 3 SID AND SUGGESTION FOR IMPROVEMENT OF CHART DEPICTION.

Narrative: ON A RECENT FLT FROM EWR TO RIC, I NOTICED A POTENTIAL HAZARD WHICH I FELT SHOULD BE RPTED. IT HAS TO DO WITH EWR 3 DEP. OUR FLT PLAN CALLED FOR THE EWR SID--WHITE J209 SBY V1 CCC HPW RIC. WE WERE CLRED AS FILED. OUR NAV WAS SET UP TO TAKE US TO THE WHITE INTXN. THIS IS A SOMEWHAT COMPLICATED DEP. OUR TKOF FROM RWY 4L CALLED FOR A TURN TO 060 DEGS UNTIL XING THE CANARSIE 327 DEG R FOLLOWED BY A LEFT TURN TO 290 DEG HDG. THENCE VIA VECTOR TO ASSIGNED RTE/FIX. THIS FIX WAS THE WHITE INTXN FORMED BY THE COL 204 DEG R AND CYN 046 DEG R. AFTER TKOF WE WERE TOLD TO INTERCEPT THE COL 350 DEG R COL COL 204 DEG R ON COURSE. I WAS EXPECTING TO RECEIVE VECTORS TO WHITE. MY INTENTION IN SENDING IN THIS RPT WAS TO DISCUSS THE DISADVANTAGES OF GOING HEAD DOWN IN THE COCKPIT TO REPROGRAM THE FMC TO THE NEW CLRNC WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE TKOF. INSTEAD, AFTER READING THE DEP AGAIN IN PREPARATION FOR WRITING THIS RPT, I FIND IN THE SMALL PRINT ABOVE THE TKOF SECTION, THAT IT SAYS TO EXPECT VECTORS TO THE COL 350 DEG R. SO, NOW I AM WRITING TO SAY THAT THE PLATE SHOULD BE CHANGED TO BE MORE CLR. PERHAPS THE INTXN SHOULD BE IN BOLD LETTERS OR EVEN LIKE THE LGA DEPS WHICH HAVE THE RWY AND CLB FIX TOGETHER. I FEEL THAT THIS DEP IS NOT WELL WRITTEN AND THAT IS WHY I AM FILING THIS RPT.

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.