Compile error BCE0044: unexpected char: '''

I am trying to use the char variable type and I am getting

BCE0044: unexpected char: '''

The code I am using is

var tiltDirection:char = 'a';

As far as i know in JS you can't use the 'a' like in C#. There is no direct way to write char literals. Use:

var tiltDirection:char = "a"[0];