Narrative:

On departure from runway 20 at nadi, fiji (nffn), at approximately 1000 ft AGL, and during initial contact with nadi approach (they control all arrs and departures -- non radar environment), the PIC commenced a right turn on course in accordance with the SID (golf departure). At this time I contacted nadi approach as instructed by tower and relayed that we were passing 1000 ft for our final altitude and in a right turn on course (nn VOR 217 degrees to tepek intersection). The controller asked if we were aware of the NOTAM requirement to maintain runway heading until 2500 ft before turning on course. As I answered departure, the PIC immediately returned to runway heading and continued to climb. At 2500 ft we again turned right on course. This was passed to departure there were no further conversations with departure on this matter. After reaching cruise altitude, we reread the NOTAMS (they were reviewed prior to departure). The requirement to climb on runway heading to 2500 ft was listed, but it was included in an alternate procedure (which we were not using), not listed separately, as it should have been if it were to apply to all procedures. On previous departures, tower had relayed departure instructions, but did not do so this time. There is no reference for this procedure on the SID depiction. However, it is in the 'noise abatement procedures' section of our approach/departure plates for nadi airport. It was our contention that since the NOTAMS take precedence and this procedure was included in the alternate procedures, then they did not apply. This error/oversight was due to the lack of clarity in the NOTAMS and no reference to any special requirements on the SID depiction.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B747 FREIGHTER PIC TURNS TOO EARLY ON A SID DEP PROC FROM NADI, FIJI ISLANDS.

Narrative: ON DEP FROM RWY 20 AT NADI, FIJI (NFFN), AT APPROX 1000 FT AGL, AND DURING INITIAL CONTACT WITH NADI APCH (THEY CTL ALL ARRS AND DEPS -- NON RADAR ENVIRONMENT), THE PIC COMMENCED A R TURN ON COURSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SID (GOLF DEP). AT THIS TIME I CONTACTED NADI APCH AS INSTRUCTED BY TWR AND RELAYED THAT WE WERE PASSING 1000 FT FOR OUR FINAL ALT AND IN A R TURN ON COURSE (NN VOR 217 DEGS TO TEPEK INTXN). THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE AWARE OF THE NOTAM REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN RWY HDG UNTIL 2500 FT BEFORE TURNING ON COURSE. AS I ANSWERED DEP, THE PIC IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO RWY HDG AND CONTINUED TO CLB. AT 2500 FT WE AGAIN TURNED R ON COURSE. THIS WAS PASSED TO DEP THERE WERE NO FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH DEP ON THIS MATTER. AFTER REACHING CRUISE ALT, WE REREAD THE NOTAMS (THEY WERE REVIEWED PRIOR TO DEP). THE REQUIREMENT TO CLB ON RWY HDG TO 2500 FT WAS LISTED, BUT IT WAS INCLUDED IN AN ALTERNATE PROC (WHICH WE WERE NOT USING), NOT LISTED SEPARATELY, AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IF IT WERE TO APPLY TO ALL PROCS. ON PREVIOUS DEPS, TWR HAD RELAYED DEP INSTRUCTIONS, BUT DID NOT DO SO THIS TIME. THERE IS NO REF FOR THIS PROC ON THE SID DEPICTION. HOWEVER, IT IS IN THE 'NOISE ABATEMENT PROCS' SECTION OF OUR APCH/DEP PLATES FOR NADI ARPT. IT WAS OUR CONTENTION THAT SINCE THE NOTAMS TAKE PRECEDENCE AND THIS PROC WAS INCLUDED IN THE ALTERNATE PROCS, THEN THEY DID NOT APPLY. THIS ERROR/OVERSIGHT WAS DUE TO THE LACK OF CLARITY IN THE NOTAMS AND NO REF TO ANY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS ON THE SID DEPICTION.

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.