 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
An air carrier pilot reports that CAT III low minimum WX for approach and landing is not available via ACARS at certain low minimum capable airports.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 766031 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200712 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 2000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Fog other |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : zzz.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-500 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 4300 |
| ASRS Report | 766031 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : weather |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather Flight Crew Human Performance Company |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
Weather in ZZZ was 1/4 mile fzfg; winds calm; temperature -16/-16. Attempted to pull up ACARS landing weight data for runway 32R low minimums; flaps 40; for a CAT III approach and landing. ACARS came back saying lm (low minimum) data not available for 32R. I acarsed dispatch for the data. His response was; 'after further review I see that the system does not have lo min data stored for runway 32R/14L. I'll have to derive data from the flight manual.' I was able to get the information out of my flight manual. The issue I have is the air carrier not having this data available in ACARS.callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated that not having the data available in the usual electronic form adds a bit of complexity to the normal operation. When the WX is down the crew can usually plan on an ACARS request for the landing data and a quick response. When the data is not available but it is expected to be available; the crew has to add the additional step of manually looking up the data in a manual not normally accessed. This additional step disrupts the pre-descent briefing.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN ACR PILOT REPORTS THAT CAT III LOW MINIMUM WX FOR APCH AND LNDG IS NOT AVAILABLE VIA ACARS AT CERTAIN LOW MINIMUM CAPABLE ARPTS.
Narrative: WEATHER IN ZZZ WAS 1/4 MILE FZFG; WINDS CALM; TEMP -16/-16. ATTEMPTED TO PULL UP ACARS LANDING WEIGHT DATA FOR RUNWAY 32R LOW MINIMUMS; FLAPS 40; FOR A CAT III APPROACH AND LANDING. ACARS CAME BACK SAYING LM (LOW MINIMUM) DATA NOT AVAILABLE FOR 32R. I ACARSED DISPATCH FOR THE DATA. HIS RESPONSE WAS; 'AFTER FURTHER REVIEW I SEE THAT THE SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE LO MIN DATA STORED FOR RWY 32R/14L. I'LL HAVE TO DERIVE DATA FROM THE FLT MANUAL.' I WAS ABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT OF MY FLIGHT MANUAL. THE ISSUE I HAVE IS THE ACR NOT HAVING THIS DATA AVAILABLE IN ACARS.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE REPORTER STATED THAT NOT HAVING THE DATA AVAILABLE IN THE USUAL ELECTRONIC FORM ADDS A BIT OF COMPLEXITY TO THE NORMAL OPERATION. WHEN THE WX IS DOWN THE CREW CAN USUALLY PLAN ON AN ACARS REQUEST FOR THE LANDING DATA AND A QUICK RESPONSE. WHEN THE DATA IS NOT AVAILABLE BUT IT IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE; THE CREW HAS TO ADD THE ADDITIONAL STEP OF MANUALLY LOOKING UP THE DATA IN A MANUAL NOT NORMALLY ACCESSED. THIS ADDITIONAL STEP DISRUPTS THE PRE-DESCENT BRIEFING.
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.