Investigation number
199403291
Occurrence date
State
New South Wales
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence type
Operational non-compliance
Occurrence category
Incident

The aircraft was departing runway 16R at Sydney on a Radar 5 departure, with a clearance instruction to turn right heading 170 degrees after takeoff. On becoming airborne, the aircraft was observed to turn left onto a heading of about 125 degrees. The pilot was asked to confirm heading to which he replied, "170". The aircraft was subsequently seen to turn right, onto the correct heading. The takeoff had been flown by the first officer, with the pilot-in-command providing support functions. The pilot-in-command was resetting an incorrect radio frequency selection as the aircraft made its initial climb, and initially failed to notice that the aircraft was turning left instead of right. At the time ATC contacted the aircraft the pilot-in-command was instructing the handling pilot to turn right, to comply with the clearance. There was no conflicting traffic at the time of the occurrence.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
The Boeing Company
Model
747-400
Registration
N182UA
Sector
Jet
Departure point
Sydney NSW
Destination
Los Angeles USA
Damage
Nil