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37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
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A B767-300 dispatched as non-rvsm capable was given oceanic rvsm airspace with 2000 ft separation. Flight descended after dispatch expressed discomfort.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 720348 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200612 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zhn.artcc |
| State Reference | HI |
| Altitude | msl single value : 38000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zhn.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B767-300 and 300 ER |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute : pacific |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| ASRS Report | 720348 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other other : 4 |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance Aircraft Company |
| Primary Problem | Ambiguous |
Narrative:
Aircraft was dispatched with inoperative altitude alerting system (MEL34-6). MEL required aircraft not to be dispatched into rvsm airspace; and FL280 was scheduled. Hnl center offered a higher altitude; and we responded that we were not rvsm able due to a required equipment problem. He said he could coordination a higher altitude and assign a/Z designation with at least 2000 ft vertical separation. We accepted FL350 and sent an ACARS message to dispatch. He sent a message back stating he was uncomfortable with a non-rvsm aircraft flying in rvsm airspace; and advised a return to FL280. He additionally advised us he was going to file a report and advised us to do the same. We elected to return to FL280 prior to entering rvsm airspace. I have called another dispatcher and also the international ground school manager regarding this; and on the surface; it looks legal.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B767-300 DISPATCHED AS NON-RVSM CAPABLE WAS GIVEN OCEANIC RVSM AIRSPACE WITH 2000 FT SEPARATION. FLT DESCENDED AFTER DISPATCH EXPRESSED DISCOMFORT.
Narrative: ACFT WAS DISPATCHED WITH INOP ALT ALERTING SYSTEM (MEL34-6). MEL REQUIRED ACFT NOT TO BE DISPATCHED INTO RVSM AIRSPACE; AND FL280 WAS SCHEDULED. HNL CTR OFFERED A HIGHER ALT; AND WE RESPONDED THAT WE WERE NOT RVSM ABLE DUE TO A REQUIRED EQUIPMENT PROB. HE SAID HE COULD COORD A HIGHER ALT AND ASSIGN A/Z DESIGNATION WITH AT LEAST 2000 FT VERT SEPARATION. WE ACCEPTED FL350 AND SENT AN ACARS MSG TO DISPATCH. HE SENT A MSG BACK STATING HE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH A NON-RVSM ACFT FLYING IN RVSM AIRSPACE; AND ADVISED A RETURN TO FL280. HE ADDITIONALLY ADVISED US HE WAS GOING TO FILE A RPT AND ADVISED US TO DO THE SAME. WE ELECTED TO RETURN TO FL280 PRIOR TO ENTERING RVSM AIRSPACE. I HAVE CALLED ANOTHER DISPATCHER AND ALSO THE INTERNATIONAL GND SCHOOL MANAGER REGARDING THIS; AND ON THE SURFACE; IT LOOKS LEGAL.
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.