B767-300 captain is concerned that brazilian ATC practice of providing clearance limit point at fir ...

Attributes
ACN	757973
Time
Date	200710
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sbgr.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : sbbs.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	757973
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Facility
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

Our ATC clearance from sbgr included a 'clearance limit point' (clp) of brasilia (brs) VOR. I inquired as to the reason for the clp. I was told that it was at the request of brasilia center. Upon checking in on the frequency with brasilia center I inquired as to the reason for the clp. I was informed that all the centers in brazil are issuing clp; which coincide with the fir boundaries; of all the different centers. Brasilia center; then issued a clp of nevos; which is the boundary with amazonica center. Upon checking in with amazonica center; a clp of tir was issued. I listened during the entire flight within brazil's airspace; clps being issued to other traffic on the frequency. This process is an incident waiting to happen. In northern brazil; normally at the fir boundaries are where ATC communications are normally extremely difficult; due to the distance from the repeaters. Why brazil finds it necessary to issue clp as the normal way of doing business? No one else in the world issues clp; as part of 'normal operations.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767-300 CAPT IS CONCERNED THAT BRAZILIAN ATC PRACTICE OF PROVIDING CLRNC LIMIT POINT AT FIR BOUNDARIES EXPOSES FLTS TO POTENTIAL TFC CONFLICTS WHEN FLT CREWS ARE UNABLE TO CONTACT THE NEXT FIR PRIOR TO THE CLP.

Narrative: OUR ATC CLRNC FROM SBGR INCLUDED A 'CLEARANCE LIMIT POINT' (CLP) OF BRASILIA (BRS) VOR. I INQUIRED AS TO THE REASON FOR THE CLP. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS AT THE REQUEST OF BRASILIA CENTER. UPON CHECKING IN ON THE FREQUENCY WITH BRASILIA CENTER I INQUIRED AS TO THE REASON FOR THE CLP. I WAS INFORMED THAT ALL THE CENTERS IN BRAZIL ARE ISSUING CLP; WHICH COINCIDE WITH THE FIR BOUNDARIES; OF ALL THE DIFFERENT CENTERS. BRASILIA CENTER; THEN ISSUED A CLP OF NEVOS; WHICH IS THE BOUNDARY WITH AMAZONICA CENTER. UPON CHECKING IN WITH AMAZONICA CENTER; A CLP OF TIR WAS ISSUED. I LISTENED DURING THE ENTIRE FLT WITHIN BRAZIL'S AIRSPACE; CLPS BEING ISSUED TO OTHER TFC ON THE FREQUENCY. THIS PROCESS IS AN INCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. IN NORTHERN BRAZIL; NORMALLY AT THE FIR BOUNDARIES ARE WHERE ATC COMS ARE NORMALLY EXTREMELY DIFFICULT; DUE TO THE DISTANCE FROM THE REPEATERS. WHY BRAZIL FINDS IT NECESSARY TO ISSUE CLP AS THE NORMAL WAY OF DOING BUSINESS? NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD ISSUES CLP; AS PART OF 'NORMAL OPS.'

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.

B767-300 captain is concerned that brazilian ATC practice of providing clearance limit point at fir boundaries exposes flts to potential traffic conflicts when flight crews are unable to contact the next fir prior to the clp.