MD-11
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Human Factors; Chart Or Publication; Procedure
[I was the] Captain [pilot] flying [for] Runway 8R departure. Release and PDC both showed the Molokai Four Departure (MKK4.) The commercially provided SID Routing text reads: 'Turn right/left to heading assigned by Tower....' Initial Climb for 8L/R reads: 'Must complete right turn to assigned heading within 2 NM of departure end of runway (HNL 3.6 DME)' PDC showed filed departure and routing; with this note: 'cleared to destination airport right heading 140; comply with SID altitude restrictions....' Captain thoroughly briefed MKK4 departure with a right turn to 140 within 3.6 HNL and climb to 5;000 feet. HNL was hard tuned in Number 1 VOR for cross check. NADP2 was selected. We departed straight out; accelerated; began clean up and started a right turn at 2.5 miles. After right turn commenced; ATC said turn right to 170; complied. Then ATC said turn to 140; turned back to 140. ATC asked if we were aware we needed to make a right turn after take off. We said 'yes.' We were quite confused at that point. After considering ATC's remark; I believe they expected an immediate right turn after takeoff (this would totally avoid the beach area.)We completely complied with the SID; albeit we flew straight out for a mile or so prior to commencing the turn. We stayed inside the 3.6 mile restriction of HNL VOR. I rarely fly out of HNL. I believe both the SID and the PDC should clearly state; 'Immediate right turn after departure' OR 'on departure; turn right to heading....' That is MUCH different than; 'must complete right turn within 2 NM of departure end of runway (HNL 3.6 DME).' So...semantics are important. What is written is not what they seem to expect. This is a miscommunication between the chart's depiction of the SID; the ATC/PDC phrasing and the pilots understanding of what is being requested. Let's be clear to keep from misunderstanding.
[No additional information was provided in the secondary narrative].
An MD-11 flight crew; cleared via the Molokai SID from PHNL from Runway 8R; was chastised by ATC for not turning right to 140 degrees in a timely fashion despite completing the turn prior to the HNL 3.6 DME as charted.