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Air carrier captain expressed frustration regarding ATC's frequent changes of published altitudes; speed on stars; suggesting the changes become the norm and confuse flight crews.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 682542 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200512 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : sea.airport |
| State Reference | WA |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : s46.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| ASRS Report | 682542 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Chart Or Publication ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
Narrative:
There are several stars that are published with 'expect' altitudes and/or speeds that ATC regularly change. The change is so regular that it becomes the rule rather than the exception. As pilots; we get so used to the change that we become conditioned to the exception which can lead to mistakes when ATC needs us to fly the published restr. Also; we need to be able to plan and program the equipment ahead of time. If we program the box to the exception before it is issued; we are asking for trouble; and if we program the published restr; it necessitates reprogramming during a busy; critical time. Also; if we are conditioned to the exception rather than the published restr; we don't notice an error as likely as if we always fly the published data.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ACR CAPT EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION REGARDING ATC'S FREQUENT CHANGES OF PUBLISHED ALTS; SPD ON STARS; SUGGESTING THE CHANGES BECOME THE NORM AND CONFUSE FLT CREWS.
Narrative: THERE ARE SEVERAL STARS THAT ARE PUBLISHED WITH 'EXPECT' ALTS AND/OR SPDS THAT ATC REGULARLY CHANGE. THE CHANGE IS SO REGULAR THAT IT BECOMES THE RULE RATHER THAN THE EXCEPTION. AS PLTS; WE GET SO USED TO THE CHANGE THAT WE BECOME CONDITIONED TO THE EXCEPTION WHICH CAN LEAD TO MISTAKES WHEN ATC NEEDS US TO FLY THE PUBLISHED RESTR. ALSO; WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PLAN AND PROGRAM THE EQUIP AHEAD OF TIME. IF WE PROGRAM THE BOX TO THE EXCEPTION BEFORE IT IS ISSUED; WE ARE ASKING FOR TROUBLE; AND IF WE PROGRAM THE PUBLISHED RESTR; IT NECESSITATES REPROGRAMMING DURING A BUSY; CRITICAL TIME. ALSO; IF WE ARE CONDITIONED TO THE EXCEPTION RATHER THAN THE PUBLISHED RESTR; WE DON'T NOTICE AN ERROR AS LIKELY AS IF WE ALWAYS FLY THE PUBLISHED DATA.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.