B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 155
Confusion; Training / Qualification
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
Aircraft was not flying assigned heading given by ATC. As aircraft was inbound from the northwest; Approach was giving us vectors to provide more separation from the aircraft ahead. We were eventually given a 180 heading and [slow] to 180 knots. Approach then directed us to slow to 160 knots. Pilot Flying (Captain) twisted the heading knob on the Mode Control Panel (MCP) to 160 vs the airspeed knob. The aircraft turned to 160 and the PM queried the PF. PF seemed confused so PM intervened and reached up and turned MPC knob back to 180.Meanwhile; ATC called the crew out and asked; 'Why aren't you heading 180?' PF responded he 'turned the wrong knob.' Of note; the PF (Captain) was utilizing callouts he used at a previous airline.Ensure the newly minted Captains from a former airline are better trained and are held to the highest of company standards. Require them to eliminate all former airline callouts. Using these non-standard callouts is distracting and could and does result in a bit of cockpit confusion. I can only imagine what a new hire FO might think when he/she hears these non-standard callouts.
Pilot flying selected a heading mode vice speed. ATC intervened to put aircraft back on course.