Narrative:

While I was programming the CDU (computer) for our route of flight, the captain was programming an altitude change. He executed the change so that when I finished the remainder of the route, there was no execute light displayed. We got busy copying the oceanic clearance and passed pbl. The computer should have generated a 'no active route' CDU/ircas message but none was indicated. As a result, we proceeded approximately 20-30 north of course before canadian radar notified us of the discrepancy. We rechked the route. It indicated the appropriate position but was not traveling towards an active waypoint. Even though no execute light was indicated, we pressed the execute button and the airplane proceeded back on course.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB DEVIATION FROM CLRNC ROUTE.

Narrative: WHILE I WAS PROGRAMMING THE CDU (COMPUTER) FOR OUR RTE OF FLT, THE CAPT WAS PROGRAMMING AN ALT CHANGE. HE EXECUTED THE CHANGE SO THAT WHEN I FINISHED THE REMAINDER OF THE ROUTE, THERE WAS NO EXECUTE LIGHT DISPLAYED. WE GOT BUSY COPYING THE OCEANIC CLRNC AND PASSED PBL. THE COMPUTER SHOULD HAVE GENERATED A 'NO ACTIVE ROUTE' CDU/IRCAS MESSAGE BUT NONE WAS INDICATED. AS A RESULT, WE PROCEEDED APPROX 20-30 NORTH OF COURSE BEFORE CANADIAN RADAR NOTIFIED US OF THE DISCREPANCY. WE RECHKED THE ROUTE. IT INDICATED THE APPROPRIATE POS BUT WAS NOT TRAVELING TOWARDS AN ACTIVE WAYPOINT. EVEN THOUGH NO EXECUTE LIGHT WAS INDICATED, WE PRESSED THE EXECUTE BUTTON AND THE AIRPLANE PROCEEDED BACK ON COURSE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.