An air carrier first officer forgets he is on a heading for traffic and turns to regain the airway. ...

Attributes
ACN	436310
Time
Date	199905
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zjx.artcc
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : 275.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10900 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	436310
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flying with our director of operations, director of operations got up to go to men's room. Did not say, and I did not remember we were on a heading to the right of course for traffic. As he left cockpit, I put on oxygen mask and started on a 170 degree heading to get back on J85 when controller asked for heading of which I said '170 degrees to get back on course.' controller said 'I wanted you on previous heading for traffic, now turn right to 220 degrees.' after complying, I thought perhaps I should turn course selector on CDI to an off course heading to remind myself to stay on ATC heading!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FO FORGETS HE IS ON A HDG FOR TFC AND TURNS TO REGAIN THE AIRWAY. PIC WAS OUT OF COCKPIT.

Narrative: FLYING WITH OUR DIRECTOR OF OPS, DIRECTOR OF OPS GOT UP TO GO TO MEN'S ROOM. DID NOT SAY, AND I DID NOT REMEMBER WE WERE ON A HDG TO THE R OF COURSE FOR TFC. AS HE LEFT COCKPIT, I PUT ON OXYGEN MASK AND STARTED ON A 170 DEG HDG TO GET BACK ON J85 WHEN CTLR ASKED FOR HDG OF WHICH I SAID '170 DEGS TO GET BACK ON COURSE.' CTLR SAID 'I WANTED YOU ON PREVIOUS HDG FOR TFC, NOW TURN R TO 220 DEGS.' AFTER COMPLYING, I THOUGHT PERHAPS I SHOULD TURN COURSE SELECTOR ON CDI TO AN OFF COURSE HDG TO REMIND MYSELF TO STAY ON ATC HDG!

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.

An air carrier first officer forgets he is on a heading for traffic and turns to regain the airway. PIC was out of cockpit.