Cessna 310/T310C
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
Two departures were given to us by the Tower; the first was Aircraft X who was coordinated on a 010 heading. The second was Aircraft Y who was coordinated on a 315 heading. Aircraft X was RADAR identified and climbed on his 010 heading. When Aircraft Y first tracked up; he appeared to be on a Northwesterly heading; however moments after I RADAR identified him; I observed a turn to the North. I asked him immediately what heading he had been assigned from the tower. The pilot explained that he had been given a 315 heading with his take off clearance but when the Tower switched him over to the Center frequency; they had told him to fly heading 065 which put him back through Aircraft X. Because both aircraft were climbing and turning; I was concerned that the existing separation between the two aircraft was diminishing (it was flashing with about 3 miles) so I instructed him to continue his right turn to 090 to reestablish separation. Recommendation; I can only speculate as to what happened on the other frequency; but generally speaking; giving a control instruction and frequency change at once is bad procedure.
VRB Tower called with two departures; Aircraft X on a 010 heading and Aircraft Y on a 315 heading. When Aircraft Y checked on; he was climbing to 2;000 feet heading 065; right into the other departure heading 010. I called the Tower to advise them and asked if they issued the 065 heading and they seemed pretty busy and would call me back. I did not receive a call before I was relieved. While I was on the line with the Tower; my R-Side got more information from the pilot. Recommendation; make sure the Tower verifies aircraft depart on the heading that are coordinated with us.
ZMA Controller described a confused event when traffic transferred from a Tower was apparently on a wrong heading; the reporter speculating combining a frequency transfer and heading simultaneously could has caused the situation.