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ZDC controller described a failed crossing restriction event noting possible flawed FMS programming.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 961077 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201107 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZDC.ARTCC |
| State Reference | VA |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737-500 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Enroute |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Captain |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Procedural Clearance |
Narrative:
A B737 was given a clearance to cross buzzy at and maintain 11;000 and the clearance was read back correctly. I noticed the pilot had not started down 5 miles south of sdz; so I confirmed the clearance to cross buzzy at and maintain 11;000; the pilot read back; 'yes; we'll cross buzzy at and maintain 11;000.' rdu had the hand off and since our SOP requires us to switch the aircraft before buzzy; I switched the aircraft to rdu approach. The B737 was observed crossing buzzy at 14;500 descending. The rdu controller asked the pilot and the pilot said the last controller (me) gave them the restriction too late and he was unable to make the restriction. I gave him the restriction crossing 2.5 miles north of the J71 (jacksonville center flo sector) boundary and confirmed the clearance 5 south of sdz. The pilot stayed level at FL210 at least 5 miles after the clearance confirmation south of sdz. Recommendation; someone needs to change the restriction on the rdu arrivals from the south. Both arrivals from the south clearly are labeled cross buzzy at or above 11;000; we never do that. The airline FMS's are not being changed and the pilots are not flying their planes because they see the approach and assume their FMS is correct. I hope the pilots are getting turned in for deviations to get the problem fixed because I don't feel like reports will.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZDC Controller described a failed crossing restriction event noting possible flawed FMS programming.
Narrative: A B737 was given a clearance to cross BUZZY at and maintain 11;000 and the clearance was read back correctly. I noticed the pilot had not started down 5 miles south of SDZ; so I confirmed the clearance to cross BUZZY at and maintain 11;000; the pilot read back; 'Yes; we'll cross BUZZY at and maintain 11;000.' RDU had the hand off and since our SOP requires us to switch the aircraft before BUZZY; I switched the aircraft to RDU Approach. The B737 was observed crossing BUZZY at 14;500 descending. The RDU Controller asked the pilot and the pilot said the last controller (me) gave them the restriction too late and he was unable to make the restriction. I gave him the restriction crossing 2.5 miles north of the J71 (Jacksonville Center FLO sector) boundary and confirmed the clearance 5 south of SDZ. The pilot stayed level at FL210 at least 5 miles after the clearance confirmation south of SDZ. Recommendation; someone needs to change the restriction on the RDU arrivals from the south. Both arrivals from the south clearly are labeled cross BUZZY at or above 11;000; we never do that. The airline FMS's are not being changed and the pilots are not flying their planes because they see the approach and assume their FMS is correct. I hope the pilots are getting turned in for deviations to get the problem fixed because I don't feel like reports will.
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.