MD80 pilot reported a change in runway assignment approaching howdy on the WHINY1 arrival. The aircr...

Narrative:

Approaching howdy on the whiny 1 arrival the runway assignment was given. Upon selecting the new runway and transition the gfms went into heading hold. The aircraft proceeded past howdy maybe a mile; then we asked for a vector and told them we were unable to comply with the altitudes at vanco. We were then given a vector and altitude; proceeded on into an approach to 36R. While loading the arrival/transition/runway/transition this late in the game increased the workload to the point where we did not notice the aircraft went into heading hold until past howdy. Runway assignment on low visibility days should be given to MD80's early. The aircraft systems are not meant to fly star arrivals with tight restrictions and FMS systems that do not easily accept changes. To change the runway is easy; to change the arrival/ transition/runway/transition then close discontinuities to fly the arrival is too much late in the arrival. Software issues should be resolved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 pilot reported a change in runway assignment approaching HOWDY on the WHINY1 arrival. The aircraft went into heading mode after the changes were initiated and not immediately detected by the crew. A track deviation occurred and the VANCO crossing restriction was missed.

Narrative: Approaching HOWDY on the WHINY 1 arrival the runway assignment was given. Upon selecting the new runway and transition the GFMS went into heading Hold. The aircraft proceeded past HOWDY maybe a mile; then we asked for a vector and told them we were unable to comply with the altitudes at VANCO. We were then given a vector and altitude; proceeded on into an approach to 36R. While loading the Arrival/transition/runway/transition this late in the game increased the workload to the point where we did not notice the aircraft went into heading hold until past HOWDY. Runway assignment on low visibility days should be given to MD80's early. The aircraft systems are not meant to fly Star arrivals with tight restrictions and FMS systems that do not easily accept changes. To change the runway is easy; to change the arrival/ transition/runway/transition then close discontinuities to fly the arrival is too much late in the arrival. Software issues should be resolved.

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	1218429
Time
Date	201411
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	DFW.Airport
State Reference	TX
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MD-82
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR WHINY1
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	FMS/FMC
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Altitude Undershoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

MD80 pilot reported a change in runway assignment approaching howdy on the WHINY1 arrival. The aircraft went into heading mode after the changes were initiated and not immediately detected by the crew. A track deviation occurred and the vanco crossing restriction was missed.