Narrative:

Departure off runway 16 calls for runway heading to 800 ft, then right turn to 320 degrees. Turned left to 320 degrees. Briefed takeoff procedure properly but had a 12 min ground delay prior to takeoff. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that ATC intervened after he turned the opposite direction on departure and gave him a new heading to get him back on track. He believed that he as well prepared for the departure route since he had not only briefed for the proper turn, but made an additional note on scratch paper for his lap as a reminder. However, due to the long ground delay, all was forgotten. He further stated that the first officer did not catch the mistake possibly due to a complacent attitude due to possible company planned furloughs of first officer's.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN MLG TURNED THE WRONG WAY ON DEP CAUSING ATC TO INTERVENE AND PROVIDE A NEW HDG.

Narrative: DEP OFF RWY 16 CALLS FOR RWY HDG TO 800 FT, THEN R TURN TO 320 DEGS. TURNED L TO 320 DEGS. BRIEFED TKOF PROC PROPERLY BUT HAD A 12 MIN GND DELAY PRIOR TO TKOF. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT ATC INTERVENED AFTER HE TURNED THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON DEP AND GAVE HIM A NEW HDG TO GET HIM BACK ON TRACK. HE BELIEVED THAT HE AS WELL PREPARED FOR THE DEP RTE SINCE HE HAD NOT ONLY BRIEFED FOR THE PROPER TURN, BUT MADE AN ADDITIONAL NOTE ON SCRATCH PAPER FOR HIS LAP AS A REMINDER. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE LONG GND DELAY, ALL WAS FORGOTTEN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE FO DID NOT CATCH THE MISTAKE POSSIBLY DUE TO A COMPLACENT ATTITUDE DUE TO POSSIBLE COMPANY PLANNED FURLOUGHS OF FO'S.

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.