This is a potentially serious issue and I think it is worth reviewing the original question on this thread:
When asked to maintain runway heading after takeoff do you fly the heading of the runway, or do you correct for drift and maintain the runway track? (my emphasis).
Regardless of publisher or source, in all the departure charts that I have seen in recent times I am not aware of any
published procedure that says "
Maintain Runway Heading" (I await the inevitable example!). Where no terrain/obstacle is present, those charts issued under the American jurisdiction, where applicable, usually apply the term, "
. .maintain heading as assigned." Otherwise a SID requires
tracking for the usual, universal reasons. The USA is a Contracting State to ICAO, by the way.
The original question by
MasterBates referred specifically to
being asked to maintain runway heading, which implies a controller's instruction. This has produced a number of respondents who believe that
Heading and
Track can somehow mean the same thing, regardless of what is published in internationally accepted documents which clearly state to the contrary.
In answer to specific posts:-
Dan Winterland
With great respect to your background and experience, if two charts issued by different sources are actually giving different versions of what the national AIP has published, then it should be an instant ASR (BTW: hope you're enjoying the new environment!).
fatboy slim
Re:
. . . but I believe that the TWR controller uses it to send an aircraft down the extended centerline. . . . Please don't "
believe that" - query it if in doubt. In the highly unlikely event that we are just getting airborne from the same airport, please don't do that while I'm departing on the parallel runway under the same instructions, especially if I am upwind of you. I shall be following the controller's directive to maintain a heading, albeit with an even better lookout as a result of this thread!
swamp150
Interesting snippet of local knowledge that - although runway designation is usually rounded to the nearest 5° - I get your point however.
spekesoftly
Common Sense. What a rare and wonderful concept in this industry
Whilst awaiting the next "incoming", I reiterate:
If in doubt, query the instruction - report anomalies. Only that way will we achieve optimum safety.