Narrative:

Dvt routinely issues a conflicting clearance to IFR departures. They issue the clearance 'cleared to XXX via the deer valley published instrument departure procedure, expect radar vectors to the pxr 336 degree radial to the drk 127 degree radial drk as filed.' the published departure procedure tells me to intercept the pxr 336 degree radial, yet the tower advises to expect vectors. When I question the clearance, am I to fly the published departure procedure or can I expect vectors to the pxr 336 degree radial, the clearance is reread the same way. The tower will not issue a vector heading. The approach control is expecting the aircraft to intercept the pxr 336 degree radial on his own, not a vector to intercept. I now of at least 3 instances of aircraft flying runway heading on departure expecting a vector from the approach control to the pxr 336 degree radial. I have talked to the chief of dvt and the quality assurance staff at phx TRACON. This confusion is falling on deaf ears. Eventually, a loss of separation or near midair collision will result unless the confusion is taken out of this clearance. Callback conversation with P50 specialist revealed the following information: analyst called P50 specialist. Specialist advised that facility investigated pilot and controller concerns on dvt IFR departure procedure. P50 evaluated dvt controller's clearance phraseology to ensure that an incorrect pilot interpretation was not conveyed. The specialist explained that departing pilots often are issued radar vector headings on initial contact from P50, but if other traffic conditions exist, and the controller cannot immediately issue a vector heading, the pilot is expected to intercept and resume the published IFR departure procedure. The specialist advised some pilots continue on a 060 degree heading, and are challenged by ATC about their non compliance. P50 has coordination with dvt cpr pilots about this departure procedure and its expected application.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C550 PLT CLAIMS DVT IFR DEP PROC IN CONFLICT WITH EXPECTED RADAR VECTORS USUALLY OBTAINED WHEN AIRBORNE.

Narrative: DVT ROUTINELY ISSUES A CONFLICTING CLRNC TO IFR DEPS. THEY ISSUE THE CLRNC 'CLRED TO XXX VIA THE DEER VALLEY PUBLISHED INST DEP PROC, EXPECT RADAR VECTORS TO THE PXR 336 DEG RADIAL TO THE DRK 127 DEG RADIAL DRK AS FILED.' THE PUBLISHED DEP PROC TELLS ME TO INTERCEPT THE PXR 336 DEG RADIAL, YET THE TWR ADVISES TO EXPECT VECTORS. WHEN I QUESTION THE CLRNC, AM I TO FLY THE PUBLISHED DEP PROC OR CAN I EXPECT VECTORS TO THE PXR 336 DEG RADIAL, THE CLRNC IS REREAD THE SAME WAY. THE TWR WILL NOT ISSUE A VECTOR HDG. THE APCH CTL IS EXPECTING THE ACFT TO INTERCEPT THE PXR 336 DEG RADIAL ON HIS OWN, NOT A VECTOR TO INTERCEPT. I NOW OF AT LEAST 3 INSTANCES OF ACFT FLYING RWY HDG ON DEP EXPECTING A VECTOR FROM THE APCH CTL TO THE PXR 336 DEG RADIAL. I HAVE TALKED TO THE CHIEF OF DVT AND THE QUALITY ASSURANCE STAFF AT PHX TRACON. THIS CONFUSION IS FALLING ON DEAF EARS. EVENTUALLY, A LOSS OF SEPARATION OR NMAC WILL RESULT UNLESS THE CONFUSION IS TAKEN OUT OF THIS CLRNC. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH P50 SPECIALIST REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: ANALYST CALLED P50 SPECIALIST. SPECIALIST ADVISED THAT FACILITY INVESTIGATED PLT AND CTLR CONCERNS ON DVT IFR DEP PROC. P50 EVALUATED DVT CTLR'S CLRNC PHRASEOLOGY TO ENSURE THAT AN INCORRECT PLT INTERP WAS NOT CONVEYED. THE SPECIALIST EXPLAINED THAT DEPARTING PLTS OFTEN ARE ISSUED RADAR VECTOR HDGS ON INITIAL CONTACT FROM P50, BUT IF OTHER TFC CONDITIONS EXIST, AND THE CTLR CANNOT IMMEDIATELY ISSUE A VECTOR HDG, THE PLT IS EXPECTED TO INTERCEPT AND RESUME THE PUBLISHED IFR DEP PROC. THE SPECIALIST ADVISED SOME PLTS CONTINUE ON A 060 DEG HDG, AND ARE CHALLENGED BY ATC ABOUT THEIR NON COMPLIANCE. P50 HAS COORD WITH DVT CPR PLTS ABOUT THIS DEP PROC AND ITS EXPECTED APPLICATION.

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.