Narrative:

On descent into amsterdam, netherlands, we were cleared for the cda ILS runway 6 approach. Cda means continuous descent approach. After passing the pampus VOR, we started descent from 7000 ft to 2500 ft. This was an error since the approach plate stated to start descent at 7.3 DME from the pampus VOR. We were notified by ATC at 4000 ft to stop descent because of a noise problem, not terrain or obstacle. The GPWS was never activated. This cda approach was designed as a routing to avoid noise to populated areas, not to avoid terrain or obstacles. The commercial chart approach plate for this approach is an enlarged folded one like some sids and stars. It has RNAV (STAR) symbols and in the profile view, the VOR is not shown. Also in the profile view, the 7.3 DME fix has a bar below it similar to that used under vors. I recommend that the VOR be shown in the profile view in order to clarify the procedure since normally in non precision approachs you descend after passing the VOR. This is listed as a temporary procedure so maybe it is in the developmental stages. Supplemental information from acn 400242: ATC had us stop descent at 4000 ft for noise abatement. We remained at 4000 ft until cleared by ATC to resume approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B747-200 FREIGHTER FLC DSNDS TOO SOON ON THE APCH INTO AMS ARPT. FO CITES A CHARTING PROB FOR THE EARLY DSCNT.

Narrative: ON DSCNT INTO AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, WE WERE CLRED FOR THE CDA ILS RWY 6 APCH. CDA MEANS CONTINUOUS DSCNT APCH. AFTER PASSING THE PAMPUS VOR, WE STARTED DSCNT FROM 7000 FT TO 2500 FT. THIS WAS AN ERROR SINCE THE APCH PLATE STATED TO START DSCNT AT 7.3 DME FROM THE PAMPUS VOR. WE WERE NOTIFIED BY ATC AT 4000 FT TO STOP DSCNT BECAUSE OF A NOISE PROB, NOT TERRAIN OR OBSTACLE. THE GPWS WAS NEVER ACTIVATED. THIS CDA APCH WAS DESIGNED AS A ROUTING TO AVOID NOISE TO POPULATED AREAS, NOT TO AVOID TERRAIN OR OBSTACLES. THE COMMERCIAL CHART APCH PLATE FOR THIS APCH IS AN ENLARGED FOLDED ONE LIKE SOME SIDS AND STARS. IT HAS RNAV (STAR) SYMBOLS AND IN THE PROFILE VIEW, THE VOR IS NOT SHOWN. ALSO IN THE PROFILE VIEW, THE 7.3 DME FIX HAS A BAR BELOW IT SIMILAR TO THAT USED UNDER VORS. I RECOMMEND THAT THE VOR BE SHOWN IN THE PROFILE VIEW IN ORDER TO CLARIFY THE PROC SINCE NORMALLY IN NON PRECISION APCHS YOU DSND AFTER PASSING THE VOR. THIS IS LISTED AS A TEMPORARY PROC SO MAYBE IT IS IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 400242: ATC HAD US STOP DSCNT AT 4000 FT FOR NOISE ABATEMENT. WE REMAINED AT 4000 FT UNTIL CLRED BY ATC TO RESUME APCH.

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.