Originally Posted by
Kacee
Not sure I'd call this a systemic failure, but wow, it just kind of amazes me that even if this was the FO's first SFO departure, they were not aware of the special risks created by the parallel runway setup and the basic common sense conclusion which follows that when you're departing on 1R, YOU DO NOT TURN LEFT IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF.
Well, if I understand the initial conclusions properly, it sounds like what happened is that the computer was programmed for a course of 280 degrees based upon the expected departure on 28R. This should have been corrected to a desired course of 010 degrees, based upon the actual departure on 1R, but it apparently was not. Thus, when the computer was engaged, it tried to come to 280 degrees, which would involve a left turn from a 010 heading. So, I think it was less “the pilots deliberately turned left” and more “the pilots activated the autopilot and the autopilot turned toward the programmed heading.” So, if there is a systemic failure here, I imagine it will be something on the checklist regarding verifying the computer has the correct departure runway programmed in.