After flying an extended overwater operation on a domestic route, the captain discovers, prior to hi...

Attributes
ACN	548765
Time
Date	200205
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tpa.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	548765
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical cabin event other non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : cab 3
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company Cabin Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

I was scheduled to fy dfw-tpa. I reviewed the flight plan, noting the routing overwater and checked that I had the right airplane -- which I did. I also made the mental note to include the overwater aspect of the flight to the flight attendants, except that somehow I didn't end up telling them when I got to the aircraft and briefed them. I don't know why I didn't. Upon briefing the flight attendants of the overwater routing, I realized my omission on the previous leg. The flight attendants acknowledged the routing and checked the aircraft for vests and rafts, which they did not find. A quick call to dispatch got the flight rerted back within 50 mi of land and we left. While I realize that this is my responsibility, I can't help but think the proper briefing doesn't get made from time-to-time. Perhaps the flight attendant WX briefing could include an indication of overwater planning in order to back up others. Understand that a physical check of vests is not a requirement domestically, but since my crew checked anyway, I have to think perhaps other aircraft may have had their life vests removed as well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER FLYING AN EXTENDED OVERWATER OP ON A DOMESTIC RTE, THE CAPT DISCOVERS, PRIOR TO HIS RETURN TRIP, THAT HIS ACFT IS NOT EQUIPPED FOR THAT TYPE OF OP AS SPECIFIED IN FAR PART 121 PT 339 FOR A DEP FROM TPA, FL.

Narrative: I WAS SCHEDULED TO FY DFW-TPA. I REVIEWED THE FLT PLAN, NOTING THE ROUTING OVERWATER AND CHKED THAT I HAD THE RIGHT AIRPLANE -- WHICH I DID. I ALSO MADE THE MENTAL NOTE TO INCLUDE THE OVERWATER ASPECT OF THE FLT TO THE FLT ATTENDANTS, EXCEPT THAT SOMEHOW I DIDN'T END UP TELLING THEM WHEN I GOT TO THE ACFT AND BRIEFED THEM. I DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T. UPON BRIEFING THE FLT ATTENDANTS OF THE OVERWATER ROUTING, I REALIZED MY OMISSION ON THE PREVIOUS LEG. THE FLT ATTENDANTS ACKNOWLEDGED THE ROUTING AND CHKED THE ACFT FOR VESTS AND RAFTS, WHICH THEY DID NOT FIND. A QUICK CALL TO DISPATCH GOT THE FLT RERTED BACK WITHIN 50 MI OF LAND AND WE LEFT. WHILE I REALIZE THAT THIS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY, I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THE PROPER BRIEFING DOESN'T GET MADE FROM TIME-TO-TIME. PERHAPS THE FLT ATTENDANT WX BRIEFING COULD INCLUDE AN INDICATION OF OVERWATER PLANNING IN ORDER TO BACK UP OTHERS. UNDERSTAND THAT A PHYSICAL CHK OF VESTS IS NOT A REQUIREMENT DOMESTICALLY, BUT SINCE MY CREW CHKED ANYWAY, I HAVE TO THINK PERHAPS OTHER ACFT MAY HAVE HAD THEIR LIFE VESTS REMOVED AS WELL.

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.

After flying an extended overwater operation on a domestic route, the captain discovers, prior to his return trip, that his aircraft is not equipped for that type of operation as specified in far part 121 pt 339 for a departure from tpa, fl.