A flight crew departing mhlm/sap had to take evasive action for traffic crossing the runway 22 final...

Narrative:

I had briefed takeoff on runway 22 with right turn out to be going in correct direction for single engine procedure should it become necessary. [I] was cleared for takeoff by tower with no direction given for turn but clearance was for direct gabix intersection. Upon rotation first officer told me to turn left due to traffic to our right. TCAS showed traffic 500 ft above within 2.5 miles at 1 o'clock and I would have turned directly into the traffic had the first officer not redirected me left. Perhaps the TCAS would have saved us but I believe that it may well have been impossible to maneuver sufficiently at that early stage of flight to avoid collision. Tower never mentioned the traffic; which I believe to have been on a right downwind for runway 22. There is no procedure for departing runway 22 and it seemed to me prudent to make turn out in direction of southeast procedures. I questioned tower about the traffic to the right after well clear and they replied that we were not in conflict with a left turn. Then I pointed out that we had not been directed to turn left after takeoff and then said that I would submit a report.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A flight crew departing MHLM/SAP had to take evasive action for traffic crossing the Runway 22 final. ATC gave no departure instructions nor traffic alert.

Narrative: I had briefed takeoff on Runway 22 with right turn out to be going in correct direction for single engine procedure should it become necessary. [I] was cleared for takeoff by Tower with no direction given for turn but clearance was for direct GABIX Intersection. Upon rotation First Officer told me to turn left due to traffic to our right. TCAS showed traffic 500 FT above within 2.5 miles at 1 o'clock and I would have turned directly into the traffic had the First Officer not redirected me left. Perhaps the TCAS would have saved us but I believe that it may well have been impossible to maneuver sufficiently at that early stage of flight to avoid collision. Tower never mentioned the traffic; which I believe to have been on a right downwind for Runway 22. There is no procedure for departing Runway 22 and it seemed to me prudent to make turn out in direction of southeast procedures. I questioned Tower about the traffic to the right after well clear and they replied that we were not in conflict with a left turn. Then I pointed out that we had not been directed to turn left after takeoff and then said that I would submit a report.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	917097
Time
Date	201011
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	MHLM.Airport
State Reference	FO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

A flight crew departing mhlm/sap had to take evasive action for traffic crossing the runway 22 final. ATC gave no departure instructions nor traffic alert.