Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Chart Or Publication; Human Factors
We were cleared via the Charlotte one departure; PITTY transition and departing 18C.  We briefed the departure which showed the turn before the CLT VOR and the FMS agreed with that.  We were to fly a 183 heading until 1.6 DME then turn to a 200 heading.  We departed and the FMS had us turn at 600 feet this seemed too soon; but I looked at the departure and the turn was definitely depicted before the VOR.  We were switched to departure and I told them that we were on a 200 heading.  They said nothing so I thought that the turn was done correctly.  Once on the ground we looked at this again and both agreed that the turn seemed early but it was depicted as before the VOR.  The next day I was stilled puzzled by this so I called a manager.  He agreed that it seemed the turn should be before the VOR but seemed confusing so he looked into the matter.  Later he sent an email that said the turn should be 1.6 miles after the CLT VOR.  This means that we turned too soon.We did brief the departure; but maybe we should have used our experience on other departures and questioned why this turn was before the VOR not after the VOR as the other departures depict.  I think the Charlotte One departure is depicted in a confusing way; but I will be more vigilant in the future.
CRJ-200 Captain reports confusion departing CLT on the CLT1 departure; with the chart depicting a turn at 1.6 DME north of the VOR and the text indicating a turn to 200 degrees 1.6 DME south when departing Runway 18C.