A clearance misunderstanding results in a track deviation near salt lake.

Attributes
ACN	487436
Time
Date	200009
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ffu.vortac
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl single value : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : s56.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors arrival star : spane
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	487436
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 9700 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	486800
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

While flying the spane arrival into slc, at approximately 11 DME south of ffu VOR we received instructions from slc arrival control to fly directly to chhip (a fix further along on the spane arrival, beyond ffu VOR). After a short pause the controller went on to say we should fly 335 degree heading, a vector for downwind. This information was all passed in a single transmission and we understood the vector was given subsequent to the direct routing as the controller realized we were a B727 and not area navigation equipped. As the PNF, I acknowledged the vector and we turned to 335 degree heading. This course took us east of the spane arrival so we began discussing the possibility that we were being vectored for runway 17, when the controller asked what heading we were flying. I responded 335 degrees as assigned. He stated we were cleared direct chhip then 335 degree heading for downwind. I responded we were a 'slant alpha' and had acknowledged a vector heading only. The controller then vectored us for an uneventful downwind to landing on slc runway 16R. In this era of glass cockpit aircraft, all parties need to ensure non area navigation aircraft are not confused with those aircraft so equipped.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CLRNC MISUNDERSTANDING RESULTS IN A TRACK DEV NEAR SALT LAKE.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING THE SPANE ARR INTO SLC, AT APPROX 11 DME S OF FFU VOR WE RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS FROM SLC ARR CTL TO FLY DIRECTLY TO CHHIP (A FIX FURTHER ALONG ON THE SPANE ARR, BEYOND FFU VOR). AFTER A SHORT PAUSE THE CTLR WENT ON TO SAY WE SHOULD FLY 335 DEG HDG, A VECTOR FOR DOWNWIND. THIS INFO WAS ALL PASSED IN A SINGLE XMISSION AND WE UNDERSTOOD THE VECTOR WAS GIVEN SUBSEQUENT TO THE DIRECT ROUTING AS THE CTLR REALIZED WE WERE A B727 AND NOT AREA NAV EQUIPPED. AS THE PNF, I ACKNOWLEDGED THE VECTOR AND WE TURNED TO 335 DEG HDG. THIS COURSE TOOK US E OF THE SPANE ARR SO WE BEGAN DISCUSSING THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR RWY 17, WHEN THE CTLR ASKED WHAT HEADING WE WERE FLYING. I RESPONDED 335 DEGS AS ASSIGNED. HE STATED WE WERE CLRED DIRECT CHHIP THEN 335 DEG HDG FOR DOWNWIND. I RESPONDED WE WERE A 'SLANT ALPHA' AND HAD ACKNOWLEDGED A VECTOR HEADING ONLY. THE CTLR THEN VECTORED US FOR AN UNEVENTFUL DOWNWIND TO LNDG ON SLC RWY 16R. IN THIS ERA OF GLASS COCKPIT ACFT, ALL PARTIES NEED TO ENSURE NON AREA NAV ACFT ARE NOT CONFUSED WITH THOSE ACFT SO EQUIPPED.

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.