Narrative:

The raas system may be a good idea in theory but in practice it is a hazard. During busy times such as taxi out or after landing the airplane starts talking just when the ATC controller is trying to clear us or have us hold short. This is very distracting and interferes with possible clearances to hold short; etc. Far from preventing incursions; this system is likely to cause more of them. The system is also not accurate. Recently; when lining up on the centerline of 1R at sfo I got the 'approaching 1R' message even though I'd crossed the hold line 150 ft previously. Also; on a previous occasion I received the 'approaching 1L' message but then didn't hear anything at all as we approached and crossed 1R. Perhaps the system would be ok if it could be deactivated during busy VMC conditions. When it is most needed is during low IFR; when ATC isn't so frantically busy.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Captain reports distracting and inaccurate operation of the RAAS system.

Narrative: The RAAS system may be a good idea in theory but in practice it is a hazard. During busy times such as taxi out or after landing the airplane starts talking just when the ATC Controller is trying to clear us or have us hold short. This is very distracting and interferes with possible clearances to hold short; etc. Far from preventing incursions; this system is likely to cause more of them. The system is also not accurate. Recently; when lining up on the centerline of 1R at SFO I got the 'approaching 1R' message even though I'd crossed the hold line 150 FT previously. Also; on a previous occasion I received the 'approaching 1L' message but then didn't hear anything at all as we approached and crossed 1R. Perhaps the system would be OK if it could be deactivated during busy VMC conditions. When it is most needed is during low IFR; when ATC isn't so frantically busy.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.