Narrative:

We did not read the instructions correctly and failed to turn and intercept the sbj 100 degree radial. The arthur kill departure is very difficult to interpret. The plan view shows a vector, which led us to expect a vector. From a flying point of view, the pilot is expected to make 3 turns in rapid succession -- first to 190 degrees, then read the DME for a turn to 250 degrees, stay below 2500 ft and finally prepare to intercept the radial while climbing to 5000 ft. All this time we are required to fly the airplane and watch for other airplanes. Someone needs to correct this departure as now written. As an aside, the controller remarked that we were not the only one making the same mistake this particular morning.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 FAILED TO INTERCEPT THE SBJ 100 DEG RADIAL WHILE FLYING THE ARTHUR KILL SID WITH THE PARKE TRANSITION OUT OF EWR. RPTR SAYS THE CHART OF THIS NEW SID IS COMPLEX AND HARD TO READ. A LATER REVISION MAKES IT MUCH CLRER THAT THE RADIAL IS TO BE INTERCEPTED.

Narrative: WE DID NOT READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CORRECTLY AND FAILED TO TURN AND INTERCEPT THE SBJ 100 DEG RADIAL. THE ARTHUR KILL DEP IS VERY DIFFICULT TO INTERPRET. THE PLAN VIEW SHOWS A VECTOR, WHICH LED US TO EXPECT A VECTOR. FROM A FLYING POINT OF VIEW, THE PLT IS EXPECTED TO MAKE 3 TURNS IN RAPID SUCCESSION -- FIRST TO 190 DEGS, THEN READ THE DME FOR A TURN TO 250 DEGS, STAY BELOW 2500 FT AND FINALLY PREPARE TO INTERCEPT THE RADIAL WHILE CLBING TO 5000 FT. ALL THIS TIME WE ARE REQUIRED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE AND WATCH FOR OTHER AIRPLANES. SOMEONE NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS DEP AS NOW WRITTEN. AS AN ASIDE, THE CTLR REMARKED THAT WE WERE NOT THE ONLY ONE MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE THIS PARTICULAR MORNING.

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.