Narrative:

We received the following IFR clearance from fll to ekm: cleared via the fll 5 departure J-20 orl, J53 crg, amg, maintain 3000 ft, departure 126.05 squawk XXXX. There was 1 controller working both the 9L and 9R runway. We were cleared for takeoff on 9R with no other instructions. A large propeller aircraft departed prior to our takeoff which we had in sight at all times. After takeoff the PF (copilot) started a left turn on course to intercept J-20 after going through approximately 800 ft AGL. As his turn went from approximately 90 degrees (his takeoff heading) to approximately 10 degrees departure control contacted us and asked us our heading. Departure was advised we are in a left turn to intercept the airway. We were in a 2000 FPM climb and going through approximately 2300 ft. Departure indicated for us to make an immediate right turn to 090 degrees and descend to 2000 ft. Since we still had the large piston aircraft in sight and this turn would have caused a conflict, there was some concern. Due to the concern in the controller's voice we started to accomplish his request and turned to the 090 degree heading and started a descent to 2000 ft. The controller then gave us a left turn around towards orl and a higher altitude. He further requested we contact the area manager. After 5 mins into the flight, the PF contacted the control tower at fll and asked him exactly what he said during the takeoff clearance. He indicated that he cleared us for takeoff and the SID indicated we must maintain runway heading. After landing at ekm we contacted the area manager who indicated that the tower operator at fll also told him that he simply cleared us for takeoff with no instructions. Note: the copilot and I spent about 20 mins after this incident going over the departure SID. Enclosed is a copy. It seems to me that it can be interpreted 2 ways and should be rewritten. One way is maintain heading until given vectors on course by departure. The other way and the way we interpreted it, was after 500 ft you can turn on course. Also, normally the tower assigns a heading as he clears an aircraft for takeoff. In our case he did not due to being very busy at the time. There has to be something wrong with any SID that requires 2 experienced pilots 20 mins to understand.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CGA SMT MISREADS SID AND MAKES A L TURN AFTER TKOF RATHER THAN MAINTAIN RWY HDG. SUSPECT LTSS WITH PREVIOUS DEP.

Narrative: WE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING IFR CLRNC FROM FLL TO EKM: CLRED VIA THE FLL 5 DEP J-20 ORL, J53 CRG, AMG, MAINTAIN 3000 FT, DEP 126.05 SQUAWK XXXX. THERE WAS 1 CTLR WORKING BOTH THE 9L AND 9R RWY. WE WERE CLRED FOR TKOF ON 9R WITH NO OTHER INSTRUCTIONS. A LARGE PROP ACFT DEPARTED PRIOR TO OUR TKOF WHICH WE HAD IN SIGHT AT ALL TIMES. AFTER TKOF THE PF (COPLT) STARTED A L TURN ON COURSE TO INTERCEPT J-20 AFTER GOING THROUGH APPROX 800 FT AGL. AS HIS TURN WENT FROM APPROX 90 DEGS (HIS TKOF HDG) TO APPROX 10 DEGS DEP CTL CONTACTED US AND ASKED US OUR HDG. DEP WAS ADVISED WE ARE IN A L TURN TO INTERCEPT THE AIRWAY. WE WERE IN A 2000 FPM CLB AND GOING THROUGH APPROX 2300 FT. DEP INDICATED FOR US TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE R TURN TO 090 DEGS AND DSND TO 2000 FT. SINCE WE STILL HAD THE LARGE PISTON ACFT IN SIGHT AND THIS TURN WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CONFLICT, THERE WAS SOME CONCERN. DUE TO THE CONCERN IN THE CTLR'S VOICE WE STARTED TO ACCOMPLISH HIS REQUEST AND TURNED TO THE 090 DEG HDG AND STARTED A DSCNT TO 2000 FT. THE CTLR THEN GAVE US A L TURN AROUND TOWARDS ORL AND A HIGHER ALT. HE FURTHER REQUESTED WE CONTACT THE AREA MGR. AFTER 5 MINS INTO THE FLT, THE PF CONTACTED THE CTL TWR AT FLL AND ASKED HIM EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID DURING THE TKOF CLRNC. HE INDICATED THAT HE CLRED US FOR TKOF AND THE SID INDICATED WE MUST MAINTAIN RWY HDG. AFTER LNDG AT EKM WE CONTACTED THE AREA MGR WHO INDICATED THAT THE TWR OPERATOR AT FLL ALSO TOLD HIM THAT HE SIMPLY CLRED US FOR TKOF WITH NO INSTRUCTIONS. NOTE: THE COPLT AND I SPENT ABOUT 20 MINS AFTER THIS INCIDENT GOING OVER THE DEP SID. ENCLOSED IS A COPY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT CAN BE INTERPRETED 2 WAYS AND SHOULD BE REWRITTEN. ONE WAY IS MAINTAIN HDG UNTIL GIVEN VECTORS ON COURSE BY DEP. THE OTHER WAY AND THE WAY WE INTERPRETED IT, WAS AFTER 500 FT YOU CAN TURN ON COURSE. ALSO, NORMALLY THE TWR ASSIGNS A HDG AS HE CLRS AN ACFT FOR TKOF. IN OUR CASE HE DID NOT DUE TO BEING VERY BUSY AT THE TIME. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH ANY SID THAT REQUIRES 2 EXPERIENCED PLTS 20 MINS TO UNDERSTAND.

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.