B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250; Flight Crew Type 791
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
Solo controller at Aruba handling Ground; Tower; Departure; Approach; Clearance Delivery. All in non-radar environment. Very substandard English language communications and despite pilots pleas for repeat; enunciation; slower communications etc.; controller did not comply or improve delivery. Controller issued revised clearance with takeoff clearance. When told by pilots of confusion controller eventually changed clearance back to dispatch filed routing but never seemed to acknowledge any discrepancies. Cleared to climb FL240 and left turn on takeoff direct ABA (slight left turn approximately 10 degrees). After ABA; filed to and clearance was on course. This was LNAV course left turn to north. As soon as airborne; mass confusion with numerous revised clearances of altitudes FL40; FL110; FL80; FL70; FL90 and 'intercept radials 045; 080; 008' as controller tried to deconflict inbound arrivals without aid of radar. Worst departure management and traffic deconfliction I have experienced in years. Pilots could not understand or determine what controller wanted us to do. Zero clarity; zero logic in controller plan or goals. Fortunate to be in VMC and have TCAS for pilot vision and situational awareness. Captain asked what controller wanted us to do. Captain asked for any direct to a fix; a heading; or a climb all to no avail. Captain asked for supervisor to assume frequency immediately; and for initials of controller to report to FAA. All requests ignored/unanswered. Further into flight [a] flight behind us told us of same handling issues and confusion on his departure out of Aruba.
B737 Captain reported considerable difficulty interpreting ATC Controller's clearances and intentions during departure from TNCA.