B757-200 captain reported being unaware there was a new flight release for the flight resulting in a...

Narrative:

During preflight while attempting to load the flight plan into the FMS from the downlink; I received a FMS message that the flight plan was only partially loaded. After looking at the legs page; I realized that the fix preceding our destination was missing. I attempted to load the missing fix manually; but received a message that the fix was not in the database. I called our dispatcher and asked him to refile us with an alternate fix. A few minutes later I received an ACARS message from him stating that he refiled us using a different fix. I checked the new routing and it was 1 mile less than the original. I then requested and received our [departure clearance] which matched the new routing; and the rest of the flight was uneventful. During preflight preparation for our return to trip to ZZZ1 after our ZZZ layover; I noticed a second unsigned release for the flight in question. When we got to ZZZ1 I called the duty officer to explain what happened; and I requested to speak with the dispatcher. The dispatcher told me that he had sent a second release after he refiled us; but I was unaware of the new release so it was never signed. I was unaware that a new release was sent. Goc/flight crew coordination when a new release is issued after the original release is signed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757-200 Captain reported being unaware there was a new flight release for the flight resulting in an active flight release not being signed before departure.

Narrative: During preflight while attempting to load the flight plan into the FMS from the downlink; I received a FMS message that the flight plan was only partially loaded. After looking at the legs page; I realized that the fix preceding our destination was missing. I attempted to load the missing fix manually; but received a message that the fix was not in the database. I called our dispatcher and asked him to refile us with an alternate fix. A few minutes later I received an ACARS message from him stating that he refiled us using a different fix. I checked the new routing and it was 1 mile less than the original. I then requested and received our [departure clearance] which matched the new routing; and the rest of the flight was uneventful. During preflight preparation for our return to trip to ZZZ1 after our ZZZ layover; I noticed a second unsigned release for the flight in question. When we got to ZZZ1 I called the duty officer to explain what happened; and I requested to speak with the dispatcher. The dispatcher told me that he had sent a second release after he refiled us; but I was unaware of the new release so it was never signed. I was unaware that a new release was sent. GOC/flight crew coordination when a new release is issued after the original release is signed.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1657630
Time
Date	201906
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

B757-200 captain reported being unaware there was a new flight release for the flight resulting in an active flight release not being signed before departure.