Lockheed Aircraft Corp L-1011, HS-LTA

The Lockheed "Tristar" was cleared to depart from Melbourne on a runway 16 RADAR FOUR standard instrument departure (SID). Following departure, the pilot turned right onto a heading of 300 degrees at the upwind end of the runway. The SID required the crew to maintain the aircraft on a heading of 160 degrees until 4NM from the airport, before taking up its assigned heading. There was no breakdown in separation standards.

There have been a significant number of similar occurrences involving this particular SID. Airservices Australia are presently discussing the layout of the relevant operational charts with Jeppesen, in order to reduce the potential for misinterpretation of the charts.