Narrative:

Clt tower gave us a clearance for takeoff on runway 5 with opposite direction traffic on extended final. We saw the traffic when we lined up for takeoff. I estimate he was about 25 mi out as we started the roll. Upon going to departure, the controller stated something like 'traffic 12 O'clock position, turn right heading 090 degrees.' I stated that we had traffic in sight and since our on course heading was about 45 degrees, could we turn left and maintain visual separation?' the controller came back with 'maintain visual separation.' at this point, I was unclr of the instruction. I didn't know if we were cleared to turn left, or should still turn right to 090 degrees. I began a slight left turn when the controller then said, 'turn right 090 degrees, maintain visual separation.' he then asked if our traffic could see us. (The could.) he also asked them to maintain visual separation. Both aircraft could clearly see each other, and I believe we were several mi apart, but I want to note how easy it is to misunderstand an ATC directive. The controller seemed ok about the situation. I just wanted to express the ambiguity factor. In retrospect, I should have continued the right turn until the controller stated, 'cleared l-hand turn and maintain visual separation.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLT DEP CTLR CONCERNED THAT DA20, DEPARTING OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO INBOUND B727, WAS PROVIDING VISUAL SEPARATION.

Narrative: CLT TWR GAVE US A CLRNC FOR TKOF ON RWY 5 WITH OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC ON EXTENDED FINAL. WE SAW THE TFC WHEN WE LINED UP FOR TKOF. I ESTIMATE HE WAS ABOUT 25 MI OUT AS WE STARTED THE ROLL. UPON GOING TO DEP, THE CTLR STATED SOMETHING LIKE 'TFC 12 O'CLOCK POS, TURN R HDG 090 DEGS.' I STATED THAT WE HAD TFC IN SIGHT AND SINCE OUR ON COURSE HDG WAS ABOUT 45 DEGS, COULD WE TURN L AND MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION?' THE CTLR CAME BACK WITH 'MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION.' AT THIS POINT, I WAS UNCLR OF THE INSTRUCTION. I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WERE CLRED TO TURN L, OR SHOULD STILL TURN R TO 090 DEGS. I BEGAN A SLIGHT L TURN WHEN THE CTLR THEN SAID, 'TURN R 090 DEGS, MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION.' HE THEN ASKED IF OUR TFC COULD SEE US. (THE COULD.) HE ALSO ASKED THEM TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION. BOTH ACFT COULD CLRLY SEE EACH OTHER, AND I BELIEVE WE WERE SEVERAL MI APART, BUT I WANT TO NOTE HOW EASY IT IS TO MISUNDERSTAND AN ATC DIRECTIVE. THE CTLR SEEMED OK ABOUT THE SIT. I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS THE AMBIGUITY FACTOR. IN RETROSPECT, I SHOULD HAVE CONTINUED THE R TURN UNTIL THE CTLR STATED, 'CLRED L-HAND TURN AND MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION.'

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.