Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Confusion; Human-Machine Interface
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Human Factors; Procedure
After HYLND intersection we were cleared to MERTO intersection both crew members failed to recognize that METRO was typed in the FMC; incorrectly. The aircraft turned west instead of North. ATC asked us to clarify the waypoint. We corrected the active waypoint to MERTO and proceeded on course.Aircraft was late to arrive. During the rush to get the flight ready I told the First Officer that I would load the FMC while he did the walk around and ice check. During our preflight duties the First Officer checked the route; briefed me; ran the checklists; and proceeded with the deicing coordination. Once airborne and past HYLND intersection the aircraft turned west toward METRO intersection instead of MERTO. ATC asked us if we had turned west which we had. He told us that there had been confusion in these two waypoints in the past and cleared us direct MERTO.
A B737 had a track deviation when a rushed crew entered waypoint METRO instead of MERTO. ATC commented the error had occurred before.