Narrative:

While approaching srn VOR from the north we were cleared for the ILS DME approach to runway 35L by milan arrival. The ATIS information reported runway 35 in use. I had anticipated runway 35R since that was normally the approach and runway, used due to the location of our parking spot on the ramp and therefore I had briefed for the ILS to runway 35R. Upon receiving the approach clearance to runway 35L I then briefed for that approach. One of the differences, I made mention of, was the altitude of 3400 ft from D17.0/srn VOR through the turn to localizer and then GS intercept, whereas the altitude for the segment of the ILS approach to runway 35R was 4000 ft to localizer and GS intercept. Upon crossing srn VOR I descended to 3400 ft as published. While on a course of 325 degrees toward the nov/NDB and localizer intercept, malpensa tower advised us to climb to 4000 ft. After doing so I requested the first officer to explain that we were following the published procedure to runway 35L and that the approach procedure on our plates indicated 3400 ft to be the altitude for that segment of the approach. The controller came back and told us the proper altitude was 4000 ft. Obviously somebody is in error on this approach. The date on the approach plate for the ILS DME runway 35L (11-2) we were using is on a dec/fri/94.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISREAD PUB -- FLC STARTS DOWN TOO SOON DURING THE APCH AND THE TWR CORRECTS THEM. THE CAPT MISREAD THE APCH CHART REQUIREMENTS.

Narrative: WHILE APCHING SRN VOR FROM THE N WE WERE CLRED FOR THE ILS DME APCH TO RWY 35L BY MILAN ARR. THE ATIS INFO RPTED RWY 35 IN USE. I HAD ANTICIPATED RWY 35R SINCE THAT WAS NORMALLY THE APCH AND RWY, USED DUE TO THE LOCATION OF OUR PARKING SPOT ON THE RAMP AND THEREFORE I HAD BRIEFED FOR THE ILS TO RWY 35R. UPON RECEIVING THE APCH CLRNC TO RWY 35L I THEN BRIEFED FOR THAT APCH. ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES, I MADE MENTION OF, WAS THE ALT OF 3400 FT FROM D17.0/SRN VOR THROUGH THE TURN TO LOC AND THEN GS INTERCEPT, WHEREAS THE ALT FOR THE SEGMENT OF THE ILS APCH TO RWY 35R WAS 4000 FT TO LOC AND GS INTERCEPT. UPON XING SRN VOR I DSNDED TO 3400 FT AS PUBLISHED. WHILE ON A COURSE OF 325 DEGS TOWARD THE NOV/NDB AND LOC INTERCEPT, MALPENSA TWR ADVISED US TO CLB TO 4000 FT. AFTER DOING SO I REQUESTED THE FO TO EXPLAIN THAT WE WERE FOLLOWING THE PUBLISHED PROC TO RWY 35L AND THAT THE APCH PROC ON OUR PLATES INDICATED 3400 FT TO BE THE ALT FOR THAT SEGMENT OF THE APCH. THE CTLR CAME BACK AND TOLD US THE PROPER ALT WAS 4000 FT. OBVIOUSLY SOMEBODY IS IN ERROR ON THIS APCH. THE DATE ON THE APCH PLATE FOR THE ILS DME RWY 35L (11-2) WE WERE USING IS ON A DEC/FRI/94.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.