Air carrier medium large transport makes takeoff without unauthorized flap setting for mdw airport.

Attributes
ACN	105894
Time
Date	198903
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdw
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : las
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time total : 8800 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	105894
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Received weight and balance numbers over radio from company. 'Flaps 5' was indicated for takeoff but this seemed unusual to both my self and captain. Attempted to confirm numbers with onboard manual, but aircraft manual no longer required to be kept current. Takeoff was completed but appeared to be under less than 'balanced field length' conditions. Investigation subsequent to flight revealed that 'flaps 5' is not applicable to any runway at mdw. Don't takeoff until any misgivings about possible errors are positively resolved!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG MAKES TKOF WITHOUT UNAUTH FLAP SETTING FOR MDW ARPT.

Narrative: RECEIVED WT AND BALANCE NUMBERS OVER RADIO FROM COMPANY. 'FLAPS 5' WAS INDICATED FOR TKOF BUT THIS SEEMED UNUSUAL TO BOTH MY SELF AND CAPT. ATTEMPTED TO CONFIRM NUMBERS WITH ONBOARD MANUAL, BUT ACFT MANUAL NO LONGER REQUIRED TO BE KEPT CURRENT. TKOF WAS COMPLETED BUT APPEARED TO BE UNDER LESS THAN 'BALANCED FIELD LENGTH' CONDITIONS. INVESTIGATION SUBSEQUENT TO FLT REVEALED THAT 'FLAPS 5' IS NOT APPLICABLE TO ANY RWY AT MDW. DON'T TKOF UNTIL ANY MISGIVINGS ABOUT POSSIBLE ERRORS ARE POSITIVELY RESOLVED!

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.