Narrative:

While descending via the Eagul5 arrival into phx; I noted a discrepancy in comparing the chart with the aircraft navigation display. Specifically; the chart directs crossing eagul intersection at or above FL180 (based on qne; that is; aircraft altimeters set to standard 29.92 in hg.) the aircraft navigation database; in contrast; directs crossing eagul intersection at or above 18;000 ft (based on qnh; that is; aircraft altimeters set to a local altimeter setting.) please note that the upper clearance limit of FL230 at eagul intersection is not at issue here. I queried the air traffic controller as to which lower limit was correct at eagul intersection: FL180 or 18;000 ft. He replied that the lowest clearance limit to cross eagul intersection is FL180; not 18;000 ft (that is; the chart is correct and the aircraft navigation database is incorrect.) I asked him if he was certain of this and he replied that the lowest clearance limit to cross eagul intersection is FL180 and has always been so. I believe; but I am not certain; that this aircraft navigation database discrepancy is present in all A320 series aircraft. It is important that this discrepancy is promptly corrected because a sufficiently low local altimeter setting could result in a clearance deviation/violation/aircraft accident. For example; a local altimeter setting of 29.62 in hg could cause an A320 series aircraft to cross eagul intersection at FL177 - which is 300 ft below the clearance limit altitude of FL180. The performance standards for airline transport pilots delineate a maximum tolerance of 100 ft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 Captain reports his FMGC database depicts crossing EAGUL between FL230 and 18;000 FT; on the EAGUL 5 arrival to PHX. The chart; which is correct; indicates the lower limit should be FL180.

Narrative: While descending via the Eagul5 Arrival into PHX; I noted a discrepancy in comparing the chart with the aircraft Navigation Display. Specifically; the chart directs crossing EAGUL intersection at or above FL180 (based on QNE; that is; aircraft altimeters set to standard 29.92 in Hg.) The aircraft navigation database; in contrast; directs crossing EAGUL intersection at or above 18;000 FT (based on QNH; that is; aircraft altimeters set to a local altimeter setting.) Please note that the upper clearance limit of FL230 at EAGUL intersection is not at issue here. I queried the Air Traffic Controller as to which lower limit was correct at EAGUL intersection: FL180 or 18;000 FT. He replied that the lowest clearance limit to cross EAGUL intersection is FL180; not 18;000 FT (that is; the chart is correct and the aircraft navigation database is incorrect.) I asked him if he was certain of this and he replied that the lowest clearance limit to cross EAGUL intersection is FL180 and has always been so. I believe; but I am not certain; that this aircraft navigation database discrepancy is present in all A320 series aircraft. It is important that this discrepancy is promptly corrected because a sufficiently low local altimeter setting could result in a clearance deviation/violation/aircraft accident. For example; a local altimeter setting of 29.62 in Hg could cause an A320 series aircraft to cross EAGUL intersection at FL177 - which is 300 FT below the clearance limit altitude of FL180. The performance standards for Airline Transport Pilots delineate a maximum tolerance of 100 FT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.