MD80 flight crew intercept ferra RNAV SID vice flying assigned heading on departure from dfw.

Attributes
ACN	697762
Time
Date	200605
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d10.tracon tower : dfw.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	697762
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	697763
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed dfw runway 18L for slc. Clearance was FERRA2.pnh. On takeoff roll; given a 185 degree heading by tower. After months of RNAV departures; the captain and I both assumed the heading was to intercept the RNAV departure; which we did. After switching to departure; the controller asked if we had been given a 185 degree heading by tower. We responded in the affirmative; but assumed it was to intercept the RNAV procedure; which was in our pre departure clearance. The controller said he could see how the confusion could happen and then stated he had no problem with what we did. Apparently we were supposed to fly the 185 degree heading until further instructed. Suggestion: after having the RNAV procedures beat into us and pilots being afraid of deviating from the assigned track; when tower wants to do something that would now be considered non-standard (fly 185 degree heading); I suggest he/she state: 'cancel RNAV departure; fly 185 degree heading.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLT CREW INTERCEPT FERRA RNAV SID VICE FLYING ASSIGNED HDG ON DEP FROM DFW.

Narrative: DEPARTED DFW RWY 18L FOR SLC. CLRNC WAS FERRA2.PNH. ON TKOF ROLL; GIVEN A 185 DEG HDG BY TWR. AFTER MONTHS OF RNAV DEPS; THE CAPT AND I BOTH ASSUMED THE HDG WAS TO INTERCEPT THE RNAV DEP; WHICH WE DID. AFTER SWITCHING TO DEP; THE CTLR ASKED IF WE HAD BEEN GIVEN A 185 DEG HDG BY TWR. WE RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE; BUT ASSUMED IT WAS TO INTERCEPT THE RNAV PROC; WHICH WAS IN OUR PDC. THE CTLR SAID HE COULD SEE HOW THE CONFUSION COULD HAPPEN AND THEN STATED HE HAD NO PROB WITH WHAT WE DID. APPARENTLY WE WERE SUPPOSED TO FLY THE 185 DEG HDG UNTIL FURTHER INSTRUCTED. SUGGESTION: AFTER HAVING THE RNAV PROCS BEAT INTO US AND PLTS BEING AFRAID OF DEVIATING FROM THE ASSIGNED TRACK; WHEN TWR WANTS TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOW BE CONSIDERED NON-STANDARD (FLY 185 DEG HDG); I SUGGEST HE/SHE STATE: 'CANCEL RNAV DEP; FLY 185 DEG HDG.'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.