Narrative:

Received ATC clearance as follows 'ATC clears air carrier X to the dfw airport boids 9, will rogers transition, maintain 5000 expected FL270 ten min after turn rt heading 200 degree after takeoff. We took off south runway 17L. The irw VOR is approximately 1.8 miles south of 17R. The will rogers transition is the 167 degree right of irw VOR. Copilot took off, turned right to 200 degree and intercepted the 167 degree radial, proceeded outbound. We were questioned as to whether we were flying 167 degree right and we answered affirmative we were then told we were cleared to a 200 degree heading. The controller was interrupted by another controller who stated this was traffic flow control procedure, we had no conflict, continue on the 167 degree and said 'this happens frequently.' looking back on it, our clearance was a 200 degree heading, however this didn't register on either of us at the time: if this happens frequently then there are more than just us that this doesn't register on and the clearance language should be revised. Suggest 'cleared dfw via boids 9, turn rt heading 200 degree after takeoff radar vectors velma intersection ( first fix past irw on transition)' or vectors to any other definite fix.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLT CREW MISINTERPRETED ATC CLRNC. JOINED A RADIAL OF VOR WHEN CTLR EXPECTED THEM TO REMAIN ON A VECTOR HDG. NO TFC CONFLICT.

Narrative: RECEIVED ATC CLRNC AS FOLLOWS 'ATC CLEARS ACR X TO THE DFW ARPT BOIDS 9, WILL ROGERS TRANSITION, MAINTAIN 5000 EXPECTED FL270 TEN MIN AFTER TURN RT HDG 200 DEG AFTER TKOF. WE TOOK OFF SOUTH RWY 17L. THE IRW VOR IS APPROX 1.8 MILES SOUTH OF 17R. THE WILL ROGERS TRANSITION IS THE 167 DEG R OF IRW VOR. COPLT TOOK OFF, TURNED R TO 200 DEG AND INTERCEPTED THE 167 DEG RADIAL, PROCEEDED OUTBOUND. WE WERE QUESTIONED AS TO WHETHER WE WERE FLYING 167 DEG R AND WE ANSWERED AFFIRMATIVE WE WERE THEN TOLD WE WERE CLRED TO A 200 DEG HEADING. THE CTLR WAS INTERRUPTED BY ANOTHER CTLR WHO STATED THIS WAS TFC FLOW CTL PROCEDURE, WE HAD NO CONFLICT, CONTINUE ON THE 167 DEG AND SAID 'THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY.' LOOKING BACK ON IT, OUR CLRNC WAS A 200 DEG HEADING, HOWEVER THIS DIDN'T REGISTER ON EITHER OF US AT THE TIME: IF THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY THEN THERE ARE MORE THAN JUST US THAT THIS DOESN'T REGISTER ON AND THE CLRNC LANGUAGE SHOULD BE REVISED. SUGGEST 'CLRED DFW VIA BOIDS 9, TURN RT HDG 200 DEG AFTER TKOF RADAR VECTORS VELMA INTERSECTION ( FIRST FIX PAST IRW ON TRANSITION)' OR VECTORS TO ANY OTHER DEFINITE FIX.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.