Widebody transport inbound to frobisher, nwt, fails to maintain assigned track.

Attributes
ACN	122183
Time
Date	198909
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cyfb
State Reference	NT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : czul
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	122183
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

On descent from FL350, iqaluit radio advised us to descend to FL240 and asked what radial from iqaluit we were on. As we were approximately 86 DME (ILS) and the VOR (RDMI) needle were somewhat erratic, the captain gave an approximately radial inbound, of 120 degree. We were told to continue descent on the 1230 degree radial. At approximately 46 DME iqaluit radio asked for DME and radial inbound. As both ILS DME and VOR radial information was still erratic, omega navigation was referenced. The nf pilot (captain) replied 46 DME and about the 110 degree radial. Iqaluit radio operator replied we were instructed to descend on the 120 degree radial not 110 degree radial as he had departing traffic, continue descent to 8000' for ILS DME 36 arc approach, on the 1230 degree radial. At this time, the radial information was becoming more reliable and course correction taken. The captain was reluctant with the erratic needles to get too far south of iqaluit VOR as the 120 degree radial would not allow much time for arc turn in point (172 degree radial). Normal approach and landing was made. The crew was well rested and alert.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB INBOUND TO FROBISHER, NWT, FAILS TO MAINTAIN ASSIGNED TRACK.

Narrative: ON DSCNT FROM FL350, IQALUIT RADIO ADVISED US TO DSND TO FL240 AND ASKED WHAT RADIAL FROM IQALUIT WE WERE ON. AS WE WERE APPROX 86 DME (ILS) AND THE VOR (RDMI) NEEDLE WERE SOMEWHAT ERRATIC, THE CAPT GAVE AN APPROX RADIAL INBND, OF 120 DEG. WE WERE TOLD TO CONTINUE DSCNT ON THE 1230 DEG RADIAL. AT APPROX 46 DME IQALUIT RADIO ASKED FOR DME AND RADIAL INBND. AS BOTH ILS DME AND VOR RADIAL INFO WAS STILL ERRATIC, OMEGA NAV WAS REFERENCED. THE NF PLT (CAPT) REPLIED 46 DME AND ABOUT THE 110 DEG RADIAL. IQALUIT RADIO OPERATOR REPLIED WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO DSND ON THE 120 DEG RADIAL NOT 110 DEG RADIAL AS HE HAD DEPARTING TFC, CONTINUE DSCNT TO 8000' FOR ILS DME 36 ARC APCH, ON THE 1230 DEG RADIAL. AT THIS TIME, THE RADIAL INFO WAS BECOMING MORE RELIABLE AND COURSE CORRECTION TAKEN. THE CAPT WAS RELUCTANT WITH THE ERRATIC NEEDLES TO GET TOO FAR SOUTH OF IQALUIT VOR AS THE 120 DEG RADIAL WOULD NOT ALLOW MUCH TIME FOR ARC TURN IN POINT (172 DEG RADIAL). NORMAL APCH AND LNDG WAS MADE. THE CREW WAS WELL RESTED AND ALERT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.