boca da pilot

Any advice is greatly appreciated!
A few days ago I got a phone number to call from Departure control.

When picking up my clearance, clearance controller told me to turn to an initial heading on takeoff (of which I misunderstood). He also cleared me to fly vectors to my route, so I was expecting departure control to give me vectors after takeoff.

WhEn departing, tower didn't give me a heading (because clearance gave it to me already). I flew runway heading and contacted departure. While telling departure I was runway heading, tower in standby come 2 told me I should be flying a certain heading. I then told departure I was turning to that heading. At that point departure asked what I was doing and I told them I was expecting vectors to my route. That's when I got the number for possible pilot deviation.

I called when I landed and the controller that gave me the number was not on duty. The person I talked to got my name, phone, cert number and address and said he may or may not call.

I already filled out a NASA form. But, how bad does this look for me and how should I move forward to protect myself? Is a pilot deviation career ending or airline chance ending?

Thanks.

JohnBurke

It's neither career ending nor "airline chance" ending. You do need to be more careful, though.

You've completed your ASRS report. Hopefully you didn't make any statements in the title line, which isn't protected (things like "clearance deviation").

Remember that when you receive and accept a clearance, you're required to fly the clearance as received. Always seek clarification if in doubt.

boca da pilot

The title was "flew runway heading instead of initial heading assigned."

JohnBurke

Under the ASRS program, the body of the report is protected. The title strip is not. The FAA cannot proceed against you based on what's been reported in the body of the report; and can't use the body of the report as a discovery to begin an investigation or pursue enforcement action. The title strip does not enjoy that protection, something most pilots don't seem to understand.

The title strip and what you put there is fair game for the FAA.

The ASRS report serves as a protection against serving the penalty of enforcement action, but will not protect you against enforcement action. In other words, if the FAA were to seek a certificate suspension, for example, your pilot certificate would not actually be suspended, but your pilot record would reflect a suspension.

The statement "flew runway heading instead of assigned heading" is an admission to a violation of the clearance. Don't put that sort of thing in the title strip.

boca da pilot

thanks for the advice! I appreciate your help!

ArcherDvr

Wow, that seems a bit...shady.

JohnBurke

How so? If one doesn't take the time to understand the program, the only "shady" part is on the ignorance of the user. Nothing in the program is a secret. It hasn't been for several decades.

trip

Is this explained somewhere in the report? Just curious where one can read this information about "title vs body" comment.

In regards to the OP, tower typically would assign the heading with your T/O clearance unless your on a SID.

JohnBurke

No. Not everything you need to know is contained in the report.

Not everything you need to know about your aircraft is contained in the flight manual, either.

Not everything you need to know about the regulation is contained in the regulation.

Not everything you need to know about maintenance is contained in the maintenance manual.

Not everything you need to know about flying is contained in a single flying course.

You see the point.

trip

In the interest of avoiding self incrimination then.

**For future reference**

In the title "type of event" box it's best to keep it brief, such as Climb, Cruise, T/O, landing, etc.