Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45; Flight Crew Total 5700; Flight Crew Type 1200
Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Confusion; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Aircraft
We were given the TEB8 Departure. We took off; leveled at 1;500 FT on 240 degree heading in FMS mode. Unsure of why Controller asked; 'are you in the turn yet?' I checked compass heading was off approximately 20 degrees difference between the 2 systems. I turned aircraft to 280 degrees heading and climbed to 2;000 FT. No further problems during flight. Not instructed to contact ATC or given a phone number to call upon landing. Just wanted to make sure there was no problem with New York Departure.
An HS125-700 compass system malfunctioned after takeoff on the TEB 8 SID. Consequently the pilot failed to turn to the 280 heading until after an ATC alert.