Cargo widebody transport has language barrier problem, heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	247620
Time
Date	199307
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tpe
State Reference	FO
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpe
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	247620
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Clearance was anpu 1 departure, kikit transition. This requires a 072 degree radial off anpu to kikit intersection (120 DME) then heading 020 degrees to alpha 1. Approximately anpu we were cleared to bulan (on alpha 1 airway) no restrictions. Alpha 1 is a 052 degree radial from anpu. The clearance sounded like '...cleared bulan via alpha 1, no restrictions.' we redialed 052 degrees into our course, repeated the clearance and started up alpha 1 airway (052 degrees). Within 10 mi tpe departure asked our heading. When we told them they said we should be anpu 1 departure (072 degrees). That had us scratching one's head but we corrected and then were given a direct bulan anyway. Since this was the second time in 3 days we had a question about what tpe was saying or doing, I thought a mention about foreign clrncs might fill a space in your records. Tpe speaks very fast and are difficult at times to understand but we usually get by since we are used to them. On this occasion we think possibly they said, or meant to say, 'cleared to bulan via anpu 1' (not alpha 1 as we thought they said) 'no restrictions' meaning no altitude restrictions. No conflict, but with a chinese accent alpha and anpu could have been misunderstood.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CARGO WDB HAS LANGUAGE BARRIER PROB, HDG DEV.

Narrative: CLRNC WAS ANPU 1 DEP, KIKIT TRANSITION. THIS REQUIRES A 072 DEG RADIAL OFF ANPU TO KIKIT INTXN (120 DME) THEN HDG 020 DEGS TO ALPHA 1. APPROX ANPU WE WERE CLRED TO BULAN (ON ALPHA 1 AIRWAY) NO RESTRICTIONS. ALPHA 1 IS A 052 DEG RADIAL FROM ANPU. THE CLRNC SOUNDED LIKE '...CLRED BULAN VIA ALPHA 1, NO RESTRICTIONS.' WE REDIALED 052 DEGS INTO OUR COURSE, REPEATED THE CLRNC AND STARTED UP ALPHA 1 AIRWAY (052 DEGS). WITHIN 10 MI TPE DEP ASKED OUR HDG. WHEN WE TOLD THEM THEY SAID WE SHOULD BE ANPU 1 DEP (072 DEGS). THAT HAD US SCRATCHING ONE'S HEAD BUT WE CORRECTED AND THEN WERE GIVEN A DIRECT BULAN ANYWAY. SINCE THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IN 3 DAYS WE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT TPE WAS SAYING OR DOING, I THOUGHT A MENTION ABOUT FOREIGN CLRNCS MIGHT FILL A SPACE IN YOUR RECORDS. TPE SPEAKS VERY FAST AND ARE DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO UNDERSTAND BUT WE USUALLY GET BY SINCE WE ARE USED TO THEM. ON THIS OCCASION WE THINK POSSIBLY THEY SAID, OR MEANT TO SAY, 'CLRED TO BULAN VIA ANPU 1' (NOT ALPHA 1 AS WE THOUGHT THEY SAID) 'NO RESTRICTIONS' MEANING NO ALT RESTRICTIONS. NO CONFLICT, BUT WITH A CHINESE ACCENT ALPHA AND ANPU COULD HAVE BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD.

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.