An air carrier pilot reported aircraft in height group iv (B757 and larger) with a cockpit to nose w...

Narrative:

Safety concern: FAA/nga a/FD guidance for pdx states that 'rwy 21 clsd to height group iv acraft with cockpit to wheel height greater than 22'.' according to the pdx airfield manager's office representative who is knowledgeable of the restriction; this is due to the vgsi settings not compliant with height group 4 setting parameters. According to the representative; this restriction has been in place for at least 20 years. This is a safety related restriction. In addition; it is enforceable on pilots. This restriction is not communicated to aircrews through any current commercial chart products and height group iv aircraft databases both contain the LOC21 approach procedure; which could lead crews to think the approach and runway are legal to use. Recommendations: 1. Include a note to this effect in flight paperwork for any height group iv aircraft flights into pdx and the surrounding airports (in case of alternate/diversion) 2. Request commercial chart provider and FAA/nga to publish this restriction on the LOC21 procedure itself; in the notes section. The IAP is the best place to publish this because it is usually the first and then the last document a crew will study and utilize when preparing for arrival and executing an approach/landing. 3. Coordinate with commercial chart provider to annotate this restriction. 4. Remove the LOC21 procedure from all applicable aircraft types' GPS database.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Air Carrier pilot reported aircraft in Height Group IV (B757 and larger) with a cockpit to nose wheel height 22' or greater are prohibited from landing on PDX Runway 21 because the VGSI angle and runway end location are not compliant with FAA Flight Standards guidelines for aircraft in Group IV.

Narrative: Safety Concern: FAA/NGA A/FD guidance for PDX states that 'Rwy 21 clsd to Height Group IV acraft with cockpit to wheel height greater than 22'.' According to the PDX Airfield Manager's Office representative who is knowledgeable of the restriction; this is due to the VGSI settings not compliant with Height Group 4 setting parameters. According to the representative; this restriction has been in place for at least 20 years. This is a safety related restriction. In addition; it is enforceable on pilots. This restriction is not communicated to aircrews through any current commercial chart products and Height Group IV aircraft databases both contain the LOC21 approach procedure; which could lead crews to think the approach and runway are legal to use. Recommendations: 1. Include a note to this effect in flight paperwork for any Height Group IV aircraft flights into PDX and the surrounding airports (in case of alternate/diversion) 2. Request commercial chart provider AND FAA/NGA to publish this restriction on the LOC21 procedure itself; in the Notes section. The IAP is the best place to publish this because it is usually the first and then the last document a crew will study and utilize when preparing for arrival and executing an approach/landing. 3. Coordinate with commercial chart provider to annotate this restriction. 4. Remove the LOC21 procedure from all applicable aircraft types' GPS database.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1153567
Time
Date	201402
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	PDX.Airport
State Reference	OR
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Widebody Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Instructor Pilot Not Flying
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown

An air carrier pilot reported aircraft in height group iv (B757 and larger) with a cockpit to nose wheel height 22' or greater are prohibited from landing on pdx runway 21 because the vgsi angle and runway end location are not compliant with FAA flight standards guidelines for aircraft in group iv.