Narrative:

During the clearance issued by las clearance delivery, no instructions for takeoff, except to expect a left turn to 200 degrees was given. My first officer asked if we were to be given a runway heading prior to the turn after takeoff. The gentleman issuing the clearance stammered and then said yes, to expect that. When we reached the end of the runway for takeoff, the tower controller cleared us into position and hold he then told us to turn left at 2 mi to heading 200 degrees, cleared for takeoff. We asked if we were to fly runway heading or the departure to the 2 mi point. The tower controller stammered and said 'without delay, cleared for takeoff.' we asked again if we were to fly runway heading until we turn, and the tower controller said yes, fly runway heading and then turn left, cleared for takeoff without delay. As I lifted off, I realized that I was unclr if the 2 mi point was 2 DME off the las VOR, 2 mi after takeoff, or 2 mi on the departure (idale 1), so I guessed when to turn and did so. My complaints are: not being given complete clearance by anyone (clearance delivery nor the tower). The clrncs given are confusing. Should be specific about what determines the turning point. We should either fly an RNAV departure or not, not some hybrid dreamed up by local controllers. The pilots need to be confident how to set up the instruments (MCP, etc), especially in the -300/500.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR CREW COMPLAINS OF AN UNCLR MODIFICATION TO THEIR CLRNC FOR TKOF WHEN THEY EXPECTED THE IDALE RNAV 1 DEP FROM LAS VEGAS, NV.

Narrative: DURING THE CLRNC ISSUED BY LAS CLRNC DELIVERY, NO INSTRUCTIONS FOR TKOF, EXCEPT TO EXPECT A L TURN TO 200 DEGS WAS GIVEN. MY FO ASKED IF WE WERE TO BE GIVEN A RWY HDG PRIOR TO THE TURN AFTER TKOF. THE GENTLEMAN ISSUING THE CLRNC STAMMERED AND THEN SAID YES, TO EXPECT THAT. WHEN WE REACHED THE END OF THE RWY FOR TKOF, THE TWR CTLR CLRED US INTO POS AND HOLD HE THEN TOLD US TO TURN L AT 2 MI TO HDG 200 DEGS, CLRED FOR TKOF. WE ASKED IF WE WERE TO FLY RWY HDG OR THE DEP TO THE 2 MI POINT. THE TWR CTLR STAMMERED AND SAID 'WITHOUT DELAY, CLRED FOR TKOF.' WE ASKED AGAIN IF WE WERE TO FLY RWY HDG UNTIL WE TURN, AND THE TWR CTLR SAID YES, FLY RWY HDG AND THEN TURN L, CLRED FOR TKOF WITHOUT DELAY. AS I LIFTED OFF, I REALIZED THAT I WAS UNCLR IF THE 2 MI POINT WAS 2 DME OFF THE LAS VOR, 2 MI AFTER TKOF, OR 2 MI ON THE DEP (IDALE 1), SO I GUESSED WHEN TO TURN AND DID SO. MY COMPLAINTS ARE: NOT BEING GIVEN COMPLETE CLRNC BY ANYONE (CLRNC DELIVERY NOR THE TWR). THE CLRNCS GIVEN ARE CONFUSING. SHOULD BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT DETERMINES THE TURNING POINT. WE SHOULD EITHER FLY AN RNAV DEP OR NOT, NOT SOME HYBRID DREAMED UP BY LCL CTLRS. THE PLTS NEED TO BE CONFIDENT HOW TO SET UP THE INSTS (MCP, ETC), ESPECIALLY IN THE -300/500.

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.