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B737-700 flight crew reports being cleared to descend via the BLOGS1 RNAV arrival; runway 5 transition. Prior to cabed the crew is switched to the runway 23 transition with a bottom altitude of 6;000 feet vs. 8;000 feet for the runway 5 transition. The crew continues to 'descend via;' which is apparently not what ATC intended.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1234887 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201501 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | RDU.TRACON |
| State Reference | NC |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737-700 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | STAR BLOGS1 |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying First Officer |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 176 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 185 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown |
Narrative:
Washington center directed us to descend via the BLOGS1 RNAV arrival; runway 5 transition. After checking-in with raleigh approach control; using the correct verbiage; we were informed that there may be a runway change. (Extremely busy radio). Approaching cabed fix; we were instructed to transition to runway 23. The transition 23 altitude is 6;000 feet at tibia. The clearance altitude for the runway 5 transition is 8;000 feet. We reprogrammed the FMC and selected 6;000 feet on the MCP. At five miles southeast at sulie; the aircraft continued its descent on VNAV path as commanded to reach tibia at 6;000 feet. At sulie waypoint at approximately 7;000 feet; raleigh control queried our altitude. We responded that we were at 7;000 feet descending to 6;000 feet on the arrival. We were immediately directed to climb to 8;000 feet then we were vectored for sequencing to runway 23L ILS. ATC was extremely busy coordinating with aircraft for the runway change. Clarification on the assigned altitude to ATC would have alleviated any confusion. However; when you are cleared to descend via and there is a specific branch; both ATC and pilots need to be aware that depending on the branch to a different runway transition the altitude (of course) may be different. What I learned is; if directed to an RNAV branch for a different runway; confirm with ATC... 'Do you want me to continue to descend via the arrival.'
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B737-700 flight crew reports being cleared to descend via the BLOGS1 RNAV Arrival; Runway 5 transition. Prior to CABED the crew is switched to the Runway 23 transition with a bottom altitude of 6;000 feet vs. 8;000 feet for the Runway 5 transition. The crew continues to 'descend via;' which is apparently not what ATC intended.
Narrative: Washington Center directed us to descend via the BLOGS1 RNAV Arrival; Runway 5 transition. After checking-in with Raleigh Approach Control; using the correct verbiage; we were informed that there may be a runway change. (Extremely busy radio). Approaching CABED fix; we were instructed to transition to Runway 23. The transition 23 altitude is 6;000 feet at TIBIA. The clearance altitude for the Runway 5 transition is 8;000 feet. We reprogrammed the FMC and selected 6;000 feet on the MCP. At five miles southeast at SULIE; the aircraft continued its descent on VNAV PATH as commanded to reach TIBIA at 6;000 feet. At SULIE waypoint at approximately 7;000 feet; Raleigh Control queried our altitude. We responded that we were at 7;000 feet descending to 6;000 feet on the arrival. We were immediately directed to climb to 8;000 feet then we were vectored for sequencing to Runway 23L ILS. ATC was extremely busy coordinating with aircraft for the runway change. Clarification on the assigned altitude to ATC would have alleviated any confusion. However; when you are cleared to descend via and there is a specific branch; both ATC and Pilots need to be aware that depending on the branch to a different runway transition the altitude (of course) may be different. What I learned is; if directed to an RNAV branch for a different runway; confirm with ATC... 'Do you want me to CONTINUE to descend via the Arrival.'
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.