Narrative:

While being cleared for takeoff we were given clearance to maintain runway heading until the MM then turn left to a heading of 240 degrees. We never received the MM so we did not start our turn until about 4 mi past end of the runway, after the controller questioned our heading. We would have had to have the approach chart out for the ILS runway 9L to see that the MM is only .4 NM off the end of the runway. We were cleared the atlanta 4 departure so I would like to suggest a better departure procedure based on the atl DME. You can never tell if a MM beacon or beacon receiver is working correctly unless you pass over it while with DME you can always tell.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN B737-200 FAILED TO TURN AS DIRECTED SHORTLY AFTER TKOF AT THE MM RESULTING IN ATC INTERVENTION TO REDIRECT RPTR ON COURSE. RPTR COMPLAINS THAT THE DEP INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD BE CHANGED TO REF A DME DISTANCE RATHER THAN THE MM AT THE DEP END OF THE RWY FOR THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ILS APCH.

Narrative: WHILE BEING CLRED FOR TKOF WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO MAINTAIN RWY HDG UNTIL THE MM THEN TURN L TO A HDG OF 240 DEGS. WE NEVER RECEIVED THE MM SO WE DID NOT START OUR TURN UNTIL ABOUT 4 MI PAST END OF THE RWY, AFTER THE CTLR QUESTIONED OUR HEADING. WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE APCH CHART OUT FOR THE ILS RWY 9L TO SEE THAT THE MM IS ONLY .4 NM OFF THE END OF THE RWY. WE WERE CLRED THE ATLANTA 4 DEP SO I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST A BETTER DEP PROC BASED ON THE ATL DME. YOU CAN NEVER TELL IF A MM BEACON OR BEACON RECEIVER IS WORKING CORRECTLY UNLESS YOU PASS OVER IT WHILE WITH DME YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL.

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.