Narrative:

An information remark at the bottom of the dispatch release was sent out 11/89. The aircraft involved was equipped with rafts for extended range operations. This particular aircraft did have the indication marker (right) on top of the placard list we use to pull up before we release any flight to verify that it is over-water equipped. This information was put into the computer by maintenance: 'right hand overhead bin raft inoperative.' in a critical situation as this, there should have been more detailed information, and even maybe a letter, put in the reading file to all dispatcher. Every dispatcher and all mechanic personnel know that 99.9% of the time there is never an information placard that restricts or prevents an aircraft from flying its normal scheduled route of flight. Although the dispatcher is still liable, this information by maintenance should be a placardable item. In this particular situation I happened to be very busy, but fully aware of the flight operating extended range. I apparently misread, or obviously didn't see, the information listed. Supplemental information from acn 128104: during preflight inspection, second officer observed information sticker in aircraft log book indicating one of the life rafts was below pressure limits. Visually inspected all 4 rafts and each indicated with normal pressure limits.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT WAS DISPATCHED FOR AN EXTENDED OVER-WATER OPERATION WITHOUT ADEQUATE LIFE RAFTS.

Narrative: AN INFO REMARK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DISPATCH RELEASE WAS SENT OUT 11/89. THE ACFT INVOLVED WAS EQUIPPED WITH RAFTS FOR EXTENDED RANGE OPS. THIS PARTICULAR ACFT DID HAVE THE INDICATION MARKER (R) ON TOP OF THE PLACARD LIST WE USE TO PULL UP BEFORE WE RELEASE ANY FLT TO VERIFY THAT IT IS OVER-WATER EQUIPPED. THIS INFO WAS PUT INTO THE COMPUTER BY MAINT: 'RIGHT HAND OVERHEAD BIN RAFT INOP.' IN A CRITICAL SITUATION AS THIS, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DETAILED INFO, AND EVEN MAYBE A LETTER, PUT IN THE READING FILE TO ALL DISPATCHER. EVERY DISPATCHER AND ALL MECH PERSONNEL KNOW THAT 99.9% OF THE TIME THERE IS NEVER AN INFO PLACARD THAT RESTRICTS OR PREVENTS AN ACFT FROM FLYING ITS NORMAL SCHEDULED ROUTE OF FLT. ALTHOUGH THE DISPATCHER IS STILL LIABLE, THIS INFO BY MAINT SHOULD BE A PLACARDABLE ITEM. IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION I HAPPENED TO BE VERY BUSY, BUT FULLY AWARE OF THE FLT OPERATING EXTENDED RANGE. I APPARENTLY MISREAD, OR OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T SEE, THE INFO LISTED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 128104: DURING PREFLT INSPECTION, S/O OBSERVED INFO STICKER IN ACFT LOG BOOK INDICATING ONE OF THE LIFE RAFTS WAS BELOW PRESSURE LIMITS. VISUALLY INSPECTED ALL 4 RAFTS AND EACH INDICATED WITH NORMAL PRESSURE LIMITS.

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.