ARTCC radar controller advises B-727 that they are 15 degrees off the airway in their climb.

Attributes
ACN	280893
Time
Date	199408
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : obk
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	280893
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Center reported that we were 15 degrees left of course. Both of the HSI's showed us centered on J-73. Course was not very stable but still indicated centered. Passenger was using a game boy in cabin. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter revealed that his air carrier does not require an irregularity report filed on this EMI incident, sort of left up to the captain's discretion. PIC noted that the 'game boy' electronic game did not have a remote feature to it, thereby placing it in the category of 'acceptable' type devices to be operated on the aircraft in flight. The flight crew did not run a 'test' on the game. The captain did note, however, that the oscillations of the HSI's needle did stop after the game was turned off. No further problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC RADAR CTLR ADVISES B-727 THAT THEY ARE 15 DEGS OFF THE AIRWAY IN THEIR CLB.

Narrative: CTR RPTED THAT WE WERE 15 DEGS L OF COURSE. BOTH OF THE HSI'S SHOWED US CTRED ON J-73. COURSE WAS NOT VERY STABLE BUT STILL INDICATED CTRED. PAX WAS USING A GAME BOY IN CABIN. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR REVEALED THAT HIS ACR DOES NOT REQUIRE AN IRREGULARITY RPT FILED ON THIS EMI INCIDENT, SORT OF LEFT UP TO THE CAPT'S DISCRETION. PIC NOTED THAT THE 'GAME BOY' ELECTRONIC GAME DID NOT HAVE A REMOTE FEATURE TO IT, THEREBY PLACING IT IN THE CATEGORY OF 'ACCEPTABLE' TYPE DEVICES TO BE OPERATED ON THE ACFT IN FLT. THE FLC DID NOT RUN A 'TEST' ON THE GAME. THE CAPT DID NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT THE OSCILLATIONS OF THE HSI'S NEEDLE DID STOP AFTER THE GAME WAS TURNED OFF. NO FURTHER PROBS.

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.