Narrative:

Approaching stl to land runway 30R, we received this clearance: turn right, heading 240 degree, clear to intercept runway 30R ILS, maintain 3500' until localizer intercept, maintain 170 KTS to outer marker, contact tower 118.5 at outer marker'. (Stl plate 11-1). Upon intercepting localizer 30R (299 degree) at 3500', I reset the altitude alert to glide slope intercept altitude of 2100'. The first officer started a very slow descent to glide slope intercept altitude of 2100' prior to the 'exale' fix at 19 DME/stl. I had decided that since the statement 'cross exale at 3500', cleared for the 30R ILS approach, etc' was not included, it would be safe to descend to glide slope intercept altitude (2100') since we were on ILS 30R centerline. I had flown for years out of stl and generally had heard this restriction stated, but when not stated, and west of the river, we were free to choose our altitude for an approach to 30R. We intercepted the glide slope and flew the remainder of the approach without incident. I talked with the watch supervisor, after landing, and he was surprised that we had not adhered to the profile as shown. I told him that we would adhere to the stated profile unless cleared for a visual. I believe I just mentally relaxed my vigilance on the flight leg since both of my crewmen are highly skilled and motivated, but very new to the company. Also, for the last 7 months I had been flying to europe on the widebody transport. This was my first line trip again on the large transport in that period since now company was short of large transport capts! Also, I was too senior to fly the large transport, having junior capts still on the widebody transport, and I was not receiving widebody transport pay. I have found more potential violations occurring on my flts in the last 6 months than ever before in my 25 yr career. Combinations of old airplanes, new crew member assignments, airline management snafus and constant contract infringements necessitating management confrontations all add to this, I think.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT. STARTED DESCENT BEFORE FAF IN ANTICIPATION OF CLRNC.

Narrative: APCHING STL TO LAND RWY 30R, WE RECEIVED THIS CLRNC: TURN RIGHT, HDG 240 DEG, CLEAR TO INTERCEPT RWY 30R ILS, MAINTAIN 3500' UNTIL LOC INTERCEPT, MAINTAIN 170 KTS TO OUTER MARKER, CONTACT TWR 118.5 AT OUTER MARKER'. (STL PLATE 11-1). UPON INTERCEPTING LOC 30R (299 DEG) AT 3500', I RESET THE ALT ALERT TO GLIDE SLOPE INTERCEPT ALT OF 2100'. THE F/O STARTED A VERY SLOW DSCNT TO GLIDE SLOPE INTERCEPT ALT OF 2100' PRIOR TO THE 'EXALE' FIX AT 19 DME/STL. I HAD DECIDED THAT SINCE THE STATEMENT 'CROSS EXALE AT 3500', CLRED FOR THE 30R ILS APCH, ETC' WAS NOT INCLUDED, IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DSND TO GLIDE SLOPE INTERCEPT ALT (2100') SINCE WE WERE ON ILS 30R CENTERLINE. I HAD FLOWN FOR YEARS OUT OF STL AND GENERALLY HAD HEARD THIS RESTRICTION STATED, BUT WHEN NOT STATED, AND WEST OF THE RIVER, WE WERE FREE TO CHOOSE OUR ALT FOR AN APCH TO 30R. WE INTERCEPTED THE GLIDE SLOPE AND FLEW THE REMAINDER OF THE APCH WITHOUT INCIDENT. I TALKED WITH THE WATCH SUPVR, AFTER LNDG, AND HE WAS SURPRISED THAT WE HAD NOT ADHERED TO THE PROFILE AS SHOWN. I TOLD HIM THAT WE WOULD ADHERE TO THE STATED PROFILE UNLESS CLRED FOR A VISUAL. I BELIEVE I JUST MENTALLY RELAXED MY VIGILANCE ON THE FLT LEG SINCE BOTH OF MY CREWMEN ARE HIGHLY SKILLED AND MOTIVATED, BUT VERY NEW TO THE COMPANY. ALSO, FOR THE LAST 7 MONTHS I HAD BEEN FLYING TO EUROPE ON THE WDB. THIS WAS MY FIRST LINE TRIP AGAIN ON THE LGT IN THAT PERIOD SINCE NOW COMPANY WAS SHORT OF LGT CAPTS! ALSO, I WAS TOO SENIOR TO FLY THE LGT, HAVING JUNIOR CAPTS STILL ON THE WDB, AND I WAS NOT RECEIVING WDB PAY. I HAVE FOUND MORE POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OCCURRING ON MY FLTS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS THAN EVER BEFORE IN MY 25 YR CAREER. COMBINATIONS OF OLD AIRPLANES, NEW CREW MEMBER ASSIGNMENTS, AIRLINE MGMNT SNAFUS AND CONSTANT CONTRACT INFRINGEMENTS NECESSITATING MGMNT CONFRONTATIONS ALL ADD TO THIS, I THINK.

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.