Narrative:

The event occurred due to wake turbulence avoidance. On takeoff assigned to fly heading 290 degrees. During the climb out and passing through 1200 ft MSL encountered wake turbulence from a departing MD80. In an effort to clear the wake turbulence I turned 15 degrees left to an approximately heading of 275 degrees for about 3-5 seconds. Controller inquired about our assigned heading; and we told him turing back to 290 degrees assigned heading. No loss of separation that I am aware of. We determined that a possible event occurred when the tower controller inquired about the aircraft's current heading. Once the wake turbulence encounter was identified; turned further to the left to clear the turbulence. The only suggestion I would have to avoid a recurrent of this event; is to realize the areas where wake turbulence are likely to occur and avoid those areas.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMB135 PLT RPTS A HDG DEV WHILE SIDESTEPPING MD80 WAKE TURB AFTER DEPARTING ORD.

Narrative: THE EVENT OCCURRED DUE TO WAKE TURB AVOIDANCE. ON TAKEOFF ASSIGNED TO FLY HDG 290 DEGS. DURING THE CLBOUT AND PASSING THROUGH 1200 FT MSL ENCOUNTERED WAKE TURB FROM A DEPARTING MD80. IN AN EFFORT TO CLR THE WAKE TURB I TURNED 15 DEGS L TO AN APPROX HDG OF 275 DEGS FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS. CTLR INQUIRED ABOUT OUR ASSIGNED HDG; AND WE TOLD HIM TURING BACK TO 290 DEGS ASSIGNED HDG. NO LOSS OF SEPARATION THAT I AM AWARE OF. WE DETERMINED THAT A POSSIBLE EVENT OCCURRED WHEN THE TWR CTLR INQUIRED ABOUT THE ACFT'S CURRENT HDG. ONCE THE WAKE TURB ENCOUNTER WAS IDENTIFIED; TURNED FURTHER TO THE L TO CLR THE TURB. THE ONLY SUGGESTION I WOULD HAVE TO AVOID A RECURRENT OF THIS EVENT; IS TO REALIZE THE AREAS WHERE WAKE TURB ARE LIKELY TO OCCUR AND AVOID THOSE AREAS.

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.