When cleared kewr white after departing ewr; an A320 flight crew was confused by the 'routing' forma...

Narrative:

Before departure; the captain gave a full briefing to include the departure SID. The flight [plan] showed; 'kewr dct white'. The pre departure clearance filed route showed 'kewr white'. The pre departure clearance remarks showed 'newark eight departure'.we took off from runway 22R and climbed out as called for by the SID expecting radar vectors for white. Upon switching to departure control; we were cleared direct elvae. I read back the clearance; found the point on the departure procedure; typed it in the FMS and proceeded direct to the point. I then asked what the controller would like us to do after elvae. He stated that it was on the SID plate and we needed to follow the guidance to col then to white.after much confusion; distraction (during a critical phase of flight) and numerous radio calls; we eventually flew to col then onto white. We also followed up with a phone call to the approach facility. The SID chart is confusing and the clearances are misleading. If we are cleared by ATC to elvae; they should follow that up with 'and fly the published routing to white'. Everything we had indicated radar vectors to white. The verbiage on the SID is unsafe and needs to be made crystal clear. The SID should also utilize transitions as they have in den and other airports.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: When cleared KEWR WHITE after departing EWR; an A320 flight crew was confused by the 'ROUTING' format of the NEWARK 8 DEP chart. Attempts to seek clarification from ATC were rebuffed.

Narrative: Before departure; the Captain gave a full briefing to include the departure SID. The flight [plan] showed; 'KEWR DCT WHITE'. The PDC filed route showed 'KEWR WHITE'. The PDC remarks showed 'Newark Eight Departure'.We took off from Runway 22R and climbed out as called for by the SID expecting radar vectors for WHITE. Upon switching to Departure Control; we were cleared direct ELVAE. I read back the clearance; found the point on the departure procedure; typed it in the FMS and proceeded direct to the point. I then asked what the Controller would like us to do after ELVAE. He stated that it was on the SID plate and we needed to follow the guidance to COL then to WHITE.After much confusion; distraction (during a critical phase of flight) and numerous radio calls; we eventually flew to COL then onto WHITE. We also followed up with a phone call to the approach facility. The SID chart is confusing and the clearances are misleading. If we are cleared by ATC to ELVAE; they should follow that up with 'and fly the published routing to WHITE'. Everything we had indicated radar vectors to WHITE. The verbiage on the SID is unsafe and needs to be made crystal clear. The SID should also utilize transitions as they have in DEN and other airports.

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	946933
Time
Date	201105
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	EWR.Airport
State Reference	NJ
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	SID NEWARK 8
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 210 Flight Crew Total 11000 Flight Crew Type 5500
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

When cleared kewr white after departing ewr; an A320 flight crew was confused by the 'routing' format of the newark 8 departure chart. Attempts to seek clarification from ATC were rebuffed.