B757-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
While getting our clearance; during readback; the phrase climb via SID was omitted and clearance restated that we were to climb via SID. The clearance had been cleared the SWEEP 1 SWEEP as filed climb via the SID maintain FL360 on departure fly heading 020 contact HCF on 120.2 squawk XXXX. After clearance restated climb via the SID and as this was the last thing we heard Clearance state; my First Officer and I reviewed the SID. We were cleared by Tower for takeoff Runway 02. We flew the SID in autopilot and LNAV to comply. As we were heading toward SWEEP HCF asked what our clearance was and I said cleared the SWEEP 1 SWEEP climb via the SID. We were then told to maintain present heading.  We were switched to 126.6 HCF. My First Officer monitored 126.6 and I re-established contact on 120.2 and asked if there had been a deviation with our clearance and explained my understanding with the clearance. I asked for HCF's phone number so I could call them when we got to destination. We also got Maui Tower's phone number. After a few calls after landing I was told that HCF had filled a MOR to regional Center. Talking to Tower after landing they stated that this situation had been an ongoing problem with the 'climb via SID' phraseology. They also stated that during the clearance clarification that the phrase 'rest of clearance remains the same' was also stated. There was no restatement of a heading or expect radar vectors during this clarification. My First Officer and I briefed and flew the SWEEP 1 departure thinking that this had been our clearance. 'Climb via the SID' was the last thing we heard and our understanding was that we were then to fly the SID. Perhaps a hard copy would have stopped this problem but we are in the Pacific Program with all that entails with altitudes and separation. If we are to fly a heading as agreed to by HCF out of OGG why give a departure SID then a departure heading?
I called OGG Clearance on 120.6 for our pre-departure clearance. Captain and I were given; cleared via SWEEP 1 SWEEP; climb via the SID; maintain FL360; on departure fly heading 020; contact Departure on 120.2; squawk XXXX. During readback I must have left out climb via the SID part. Clearance delivery clarified by stating; 'Climb via the SID comply with altitude restrictions climb and maintain FL360.' I readback clarification to Clearance Delivery. We reviewed and flew the SID with autopilot and LNAV/VNAV. When cleared for takeoff Tower did not give us a heading or further instructions. (Something LIH Tower and/or HCF does when Tower closed always with or without departure instructions). Upon departure we switched to HCF on 120.2 and flew the SID as instructed. Upon initial contact with 120.2; we were queried about what clearance we received and given fly present heading and expect direct EBBER. Shortly thereafter clearance to EBBER and frequency change to HCF 126.6. Captain called back 120.2 as I monitored 126.6. Captain came back and informed me no problem and advised he requested phone numbers to make contact upon arrival.I've been flying in and out of OGG and other islands for the past 12 years and never had any confusion or deviation. We are usually given a heading of 020 to fly off of Runway 02. I; looking back; think where the confusion must have come from; is when our clearance and re-clarified clearance stated for us to climb via the SID; comply with altitude restrictions; clearance and maintain FL360. We thought this was a bit odd but still we must comply with instructions of the SID. That is exactly what we did. Worth noting: my experience departing out of LIH. We are at times given a routing to fly or just a heading but always provided a heading to fly when cleared for takeoff by the tower or HCF when tower is closed. There is never a misunderstanding of what we are being asked to do or comply with. In the above statement; we did what we felt was being asked of us and probably would do it again had this not come up. More emphasis needs to be given about flying the heading and not so much about flying and complying with the SID; when that's not what's expected of us. LIH does it right by stating the heading when given takeoff clearance.
Air carrier flight crew departing OGG reports not complying with ATC clearance to climb via the SWEEP 1; fly heading 020. ATC intended that the crew maintain heading 020 and ignore the SWEEP 1.