Narrative:

During the ewr 6 departure, we were given multiple vectors and multiple altitudes. The departure required several heading changes, none of which were completed, because departure control and ZNY changed everything -- which is normal and ok! We were told to intercept the colts neck 204 degree radial, which we did. No other instructions were given! We were told to switch frequencys, which we did. Soon the controller told us that we were off course, and asked where we were going? We told him we were on the colts neck 204 degree radial, and that no other instructions were given. (No continue on the ewr 6 departure, no continue as filed, no nothing!) he (the controller) gave us another intercept heading and then another radial to intercept. Then he switched frequencys -- I believe to ZDC. We continued on our trip to sju with no other such problems. During this time we were on an IFR flight plan, conditions were clear and a million, nice day! Sometimes, too many vectors and corrections from a departure plan lead you to think that the departure is behind you, and the controller is creating a path for you. Continue on the departure, or resume the departure would be nice to hear. Next time, I'll ask if ATC wants us to resume the departure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727-200 DEPARTING EWR RECEIVED NUMEROUS ALTS, RADAR VECTORS AND CLRNCS TO VOR RADIALS WITHOUT RETURNING THEM TO THE EWR 6 DEP. ARTCC QUESTIONED THE FLC AS TO CLRNC BEING FLOWN.

Narrative: DURING THE EWR 6 DEP, WE WERE GIVEN MULTIPLE VECTORS AND MULTIPLE ALTS. THE DEP REQUIRED SEVERAL HDG CHANGES, NONE OF WHICH WERE COMPLETED, BECAUSE DEP CTL AND ZNY CHANGED EVERYTHING -- WHICH IS NORMAL AND OK! WE WERE TOLD TO INTERCEPT THE COLTS NECK 204 DEG RADIAL, WHICH WE DID. NO OTHER INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN! WE WERE TOLD TO SWITCH FREQS, WHICH WE DID. SOON THE CTLR TOLD US THAT WE WERE OFF COURSE, AND ASKED WHERE WE WERE GOING? WE TOLD HIM WE WERE ON THE COLTS NECK 204 DEG RADIAL, AND THAT NO OTHER INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN. (NO CONTINUE ON THE EWR 6 DEP, NO CONTINUE AS FILED, NO NOTHING!) HE (THE CTLR) GAVE US ANOTHER INTERCEPT HDG AND THEN ANOTHER RADIAL TO INTERCEPT. THEN HE SWITCHED FREQS -- I BELIEVE TO ZDC. WE CONTINUED ON OUR TRIP TO SJU WITH NO OTHER SUCH PROBS. DURING THIS TIME WE WERE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, CONDITIONS WERE CLR AND A MILLION, NICE DAY! SOMETIMES, TOO MANY VECTORS AND CORRECTIONS FROM A DEP PLAN LEAD YOU TO THINK THAT THE DEP IS BEHIND YOU, AND THE CTLR IS CREATING A PATH FOR YOU. CONTINUE ON THE DEP, OR RESUME THE DEP WOULD BE NICE TO HEAR. NEXT TIME, I'LL ASK IF ATC WANTS US TO RESUME THE DEP.

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.