A jumpseater questions the departure procedure out of mcn.

Attributes
ACN	519590
Time
Date	200107
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mcn.airport
State Reference	GA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Brasilia EMB-120 All Series
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	519590
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Flight Crew Human Performance Chart Or Publication ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	FAA

Narrative:

I have a concern, or perhaps a question, regarding instrument departure procedures. I was the jumpseat rider. Our clearance was mcn.V35,sinca.SINCA3.atl. When it came time to take off, tower gave us 'runway 5, cleared for takeoff, cleared on course.' the quote may not be correct, but I know that the words 'on course' were used. This crew took off and turned left to join V35. That's what most people would do. I'm sure that's what tower intended. With that clearance, however, it's my understanding that the crew could have followed the instrument departure procedure at their option. Had they done so in this case, they would have conflicted with traffic in the pattern at robins AFB. I've had questions in my own mind about departure procedures for yrs, and I've never resolved them to my satisfaction. Frankly, if I can't find the answers, then the answers are too hard to find. I think that there should be clrer guidance to both pilots and controllers about when a departure procedure is to be flown.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A JUMPSEATER QUESTIONS THE DEP PROC OUT OF MCN.

Narrative: I HAVE A CONCERN, OR PERHAPS A QUESTION, REGARDING INST DEP PROCS. I WAS THE JUMPSEAT RIDER. OUR CLRNC WAS MCN.V35,SINCA.SINCA3.ATL. WHEN IT CAME TIME TO TAKE OFF, TWR GAVE US 'RWY 5, CLRED FOR TKOF, CLRED ON COURSE.' THE QUOTE MAY NOT BE CORRECT, BUT I KNOW THAT THE WORDS 'ON COURSE' WERE USED. THIS CREW TOOK OFF AND TURNED L TO JOIN V35. THAT'S WHAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD DO. I'M SURE THAT'S WHAT TWR INTENDED. WITH THAT CLRNC, HOWEVER, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CREW COULD HAVE FOLLOWED THE INST DEP PROC AT THEIR OPTION. HAD THEY DONE SO IN THIS CASE, THEY WOULD HAVE CONFLICTED WITH TFC IN THE PATTERN AT ROBINS AFB. I'VE HAD QUESTIONS IN MY OWN MIND ABOUT DEP PROCS FOR YRS, AND I'VE NEVER RESOLVED THEM TO MY SATISFACTION. FRANKLY, IF I CAN'T FIND THE ANSWERS, THEN THE ANSWERS ARE TOO HARD TO FIND. I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE CLRER GUIDANCE TO BOTH PLTS AND CTLRS ABOUT WHEN A DEP PROC IS TO BE FLOWN.

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.