Flight crew of an A320 airbus turned left after takeoff instead of right. They had acknowledged the left turn back to the tower prior to takeoff. However, tower controller intervened and advised them that they could turn right instead of left, which they did.

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Attributes
ACN	423319
Time
Date	199812
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cvg
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Navigation In Use	Other
Route In Use	departure other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 9800
ASRS Report	423319
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	422970
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were position and hold on runway 32L. Takeoff intersection given takeoff clearance with a turn left to 040 degrees. We read back, 'left to 040 degrees' and proceeded to take off. Airborne, we started a turn left to 040 degrees. Passing through heading 270 degrees, tower said, 'I said right turn to 040 degrees.' we reversed direction without further incident. I believe a controller change occurred while we were on the runway. The controller was working both runway 32L and runway 9L departures. When he gave our takeoff clearance he had too many left's in his mind.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN A320 AIRBUS TURNED L AFTER TKOF INSTEAD OF R. THEY HAD ACKNOWLEDGED THE L TURN BACK TO THE TWR PRIOR TO TKOF. HOWEVER, TWR CTLR INTERVENED AND ADVISED THEM THAT THEY COULD TURN R INSTEAD OF L, WHICH THEY DID.

Narrative: WE WERE POS AND HOLD ON RWY 32L. TKOF INTXN GIVEN TKOF CLRNC WITH A TURN L TO 040 DEGS. WE READ BACK, 'L TO 040 DEGS' AND PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF. AIRBORNE, WE STARTED A TURN L TO 040 DEGS. PASSING THROUGH HDG 270 DEGS, TWR SAID, 'I SAID R TURN TO 040 DEGS.' WE REVERSED DIRECTION WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I BELIEVE A CTLR CHANGE OCCURRED WHILE WE WERE ON THE RWY. THE CTLR WAS WORKING BOTH RWY 32L AND RWY 9L DEPS. WHEN HE GAVE OUR TKOF CLRNC HE HAD TOO MANY L'S IN HIS MIND.

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.