B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 210; Flight Crew Total 15000; Flight Crew Type 210
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Procedure
Cleared to descend on the SERFR 1 STAR and given a 'West' transition. Thought we heard previous aircraft get the 'Wesla' transition and asked if we could expect the same - ATC answer was affirmative. We plugged in the 'Wesla' transition expecting a wraparound to Rwy28 or maybe something else. As we started down that fork; ATC asked our intentions and [we] told them we were on our way to 'Wesla.' What they really wanted was the 'West' transition to Rwy28. Turned back on course to Menlo for the 28L ILS uneventfully.
B-737 flight crew and ATC confusion regarding 'West' and 'WESLA' transition terminology on the SFO SERFR1 STAR results in a heading deviation.