Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
During our climbout of New York airspace; we were given altitudes and vectors instead of a departure procedure. Eventually we were given direct to a fix. The Controller told us 'direct to COATE.' I (PNF) responded 'direct to COPES;' line-selected it on the CDU; confirmed with the PF; and executed the command. Proceeding to COPES would result in a left turn of about 45 degrees. Direct to COPES may have resulted in no turn at all due to the vectors. A couple minutes later a different Controller took over and said we were supposed to be flying to COATE; and to turn now to 315 degrees. We took the vector and assured him we were direct to COPES (still not noticing the difference in the fix names he was pronouncing). In the meantime the PF and I were discussing what the confusion could have been; and realized it was a confusion between COATE and COPES; so when the Controller again gave us direct to COATE a minute later; I responded 'direct to COATE Charlie-Oscar-Papa-Echo-Sierra.' The Controller didn't seem to think it was that bad of an error; but we thought it prudent to file this report. The rest of the flight was uneventful. We needed to listen more carefully.
First Officer reported a track deviation during departure from JFK airport.