CL65 departing dfw varies from assigned clearance track.

Attributes
ACN	579969
Time
Date	200304
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65, Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : dallas seven
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1020
ASRS Report	579969
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During our climb out from dfw, we were being vectored to intercept the 085 degree radial from maverick VOR, which is part of the dallas 7 departure procedure. We armed the navigation mode on the FMS. As the FMS captured the course and the aircraft began to turn right, we noticed that the FMS was in 'FMS dr' mode, which it was not during the takeoff and initial climb. We stopped the turn by going to heading mode and tried to update the position on the FMS with an operational and valid VOR (maverick TTT). The FMS would not except it. We then went to VHF navigation (green needles). Noticing that we were right of course, we began a left turn to intercept the assigned radial. At this time ATC stopped our climb and questioned our clearance. ATC gave us a new heading to intercept our course, and then continued our climb. After discussing this experience together, we feel we have learned from this experience. What we would do differently in the future is, never arm the anv mode until southeast verify that the FMS is not in 'FMS dr' mode. Then we would keep our priorities in order, if the FMS is in 'dr' mode, first go to green needles, navigation the aircraft, and then try and update the FMS position.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL65 DEPARTING DFW VARIES FROM ASSIGNED CLRNC TRACK.

Narrative: DURING OUR CLBOUT FROM DFW, WE WERE BEING VECTORED TO INTERCEPT THE 085 DEG RADIAL FROM MAVERICK VOR, WHICH IS PART OF THE DALLAS 7 DEP PROC. WE ARMED THE NAV MODE ON THE FMS. AS THE FMS CAPTURED THE COURSE AND THE ACFT BEGAN TO TURN R, WE NOTICED THAT THE FMS WAS IN 'FMS DR' MODE, WHICH IT WAS NOT DURING THE TKOF AND INITIAL CLB. WE STOPPED THE TURN BY GOING TO HDG MODE AND TRIED TO UPDATE THE POS ON THE FMS WITH AN OPERATIONAL AND VALID VOR (MAVERICK TTT). THE FMS WOULD NOT EXCEPT IT. WE THEN WENT TO VHF NAV (GREEN NEEDLES). NOTICING THAT WE WERE R OF COURSE, WE BEGAN A L TURN TO INTERCEPT THE ASSIGNED RADIAL. AT THIS TIME ATC STOPPED OUR CLB AND QUESTIONED OUR CLRNC. ATC GAVE US A NEW HDG TO INTERCEPT OUR COURSE, AND THEN CONTINUED OUR CLB. AFTER DISCUSSING THIS EXPERIENCE TOGETHER, WE FEEL WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE. WHAT WE WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY IN THE FUTURE IS, NEVER ARM THE ANV MODE UNTIL SE VERIFY THAT THE FMS IS NOT IN 'FMS DR' MODE. THEN WE WOULD KEEP OUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER, IF THE FMS IS IN 'DR' MODE, FIRST GO TO GREEN NEEDLES, NAV THE ACFT, AND THEN TRY AND UPDATE THE FMS POS.

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.