B717 flight crew question approach controller request for a 20 degree right turn without a specified heading during vectors to a visual approach.

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Attributes
ACN	542023
Time
Date	200203
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a80.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B717 (Formerly MD-95)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a80.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	542023
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic none taken : anomaly accepted other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error other

Narrative:

Busy, clear, calm, beautiful sunny day in atlanta. Heading wbound on downwind for runway 8L, with airport in sight. ATC cleared us to turn southeast (150 degrees, I think) and cleared us for the visual to runway 8L. During the turn ATC said 'I turned you too soon, turn right 20 degrees.' and that, I believe, is where the trouble began. I called back '20 degrees from what heading?' there was no reply, the frequency was very busy. We picked a heading of 180 degrees. First chance, I asked 'is a heading of south ok?' reply: 'no, turn right heading 230 degrees.' we did, and in rapid succession got 2 TA's and 1 RA from the TCASII as we crossed the finals for runways 8L and 9R. Traffic passed 500 ft over and under us. The RA called for no deviation, but to not descend. We complied and shortly thereafter were reclred for the visual. I believe this was all precipitated by the ambiguous 'turn right 20 degrees' during a turn. I've heard it before from ATC and have been mystified as to what heading they really wanted.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B717 FLC QUESTION APCH CTLR REQUEST FOR A 20 DEG R TURN WITHOUT A SPECIFIED HEADING DURING VECTORS TO A VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: BUSY, CLR, CALM, BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY IN ATLANTA. HEADING WBOUND ON DOWNWIND FOR RWY 8L, WITH ARPT IN SIGHT. ATC CLRED US TO TURN SE (150 DEGS, I THINK) AND CLRED US FOR THE VISUAL TO RWY 8L. DURING THE TURN ATC SAID 'I TURNED YOU TOO SOON, TURN R 20 DEGS.' AND THAT, I BELIEVE, IS WHERE THE TROUBLE BEGAN. I CALLED BACK '20 DEGS FROM WHAT HEADING?' THERE WAS NO REPLY, THE FREQ WAS VERY BUSY. WE PICKED A HEADING OF 180 DEGS. FIRST CHANCE, I ASKED 'IS A HEADING OF S OK?' REPLY: 'NO, TURN R HEADING 230 DEGS.' WE DID, AND IN RAPID SUCCESSION GOT 2 TA'S AND 1 RA FROM THE TCASII AS WE CROSSED THE FINALS FOR RWYS 8L AND 9R. TFC PASSED 500 FT OVER AND UNDER US. THE RA CALLED FOR NO DEV, BUT TO NOT DSND. WE COMPLIED AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER WERE RECLRED FOR THE VISUAL. I BELIEVE THIS WAS ALL PRECIPITATED BY THE AMBIGUOUS 'TURN R 20 DEGS' DURING A TURN. I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE FROM ATC AND HAVE BEEN MYSTIFIED AS TO WHAT HEADING THEY REALLY WANTED.

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.