Narrative:

Departed bur runway 15 en route to oak. We commenced our turn to 210 degree heading for SID and were just about to reach that heading when the TCAS issued a 'traffic, traffic' T/a. Our altitude was 1500' AGL and climbing. The vol of the TA was loud enough to cause both pilots to try to visually acquire the traffic. By the time we determined that we were not in a see and avoid situation, we had overshot the 210 degree heading. Not wanting to deviate substantially from the SID, I initiated an aggressive turn back to the required heading. The net result was an SID deviation, and uncomfortable passenger ride and an ATC controller who probably wanted to know what we were doing. In short, I feel that the TCAS system with its preset vol level can be more of a distraction than a help in some situations.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG TRACK HEADING DEVIATION ON SID FROM BUR.

Narrative: DEPARTED BUR RWY 15 ENRTE TO OAK. WE COMMENCED OUR TURN TO 210 DEG HDG FOR SID AND WERE JUST ABOUT TO REACH THAT HDG WHEN THE TCAS ISSUED A 'TFC, TFC' T/A. OUR ALT WAS 1500' AGL AND CLBING. THE VOL OF THE TA WAS LOUD ENOUGH TO CAUSE BOTH PLTS TO TRY TO VISUALLY ACQUIRE THE TFC. BY THE TIME WE DETERMINED THAT WE WERE NOT IN A SEE AND AVOID SITUATION, WE HAD OVERSHOT THE 210 DEG HDG. NOT WANTING TO DEVIATE SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THE SID, I INITIATED AN AGGRESSIVE TURN BACK TO THE REQUIRED HDG. THE NET RESULT WAS AN SID DEVIATION, AND UNCOMFORTABLE PAX RIDE AND AN ATC CTLR WHO PROBABLY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING. IN SHORT, I FEEL THAT THE TCAS SYS WITH ITS PRESET VOL LEVEL CAN BE MORE OF A DISTR THAN A HELP IN SOME SITUATIONS.

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.