Reporter protests design of phx TCA using roads to designate boundaries.

Attributes
ACN	134855
Time
Date	199001
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phx
State Reference	AZ
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	134855
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Publication	Unspecified

Narrative:

The new TCA in phx is based off of roads. This is the dumbest thing I've ever seen. Why can't it be based off of radials from the VOR like other TCA's? I do realize the VOR is 5 miles from the airport. I live in phoenix and I don't think I could pick out those roads, much less someone who is unfamiliar with the area. A better system would be better. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: discussed the TCA design with the facility manager. He said that a committee was formed to provide input to the design. The committee was made up of most aviation factions in phx area, including AOPA. Since the VOR is not located on the airport, the NAVAID is used only for a few of the TCA radials--most use the ILS DME. In addition, they have used roads and streets for many of the areas. While this may cause problems with non familiar pilots, it seems to work well for local pilots. The manager said the TCA seems to be working very well, and although he has received some complaints, they have been few.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER PROTESTS DESIGN OF PHX TCA USING ROADS TO DESIGNATE BOUNDARIES.

Narrative: THE NEW TCA IN PHX IS BASED OFF OF ROADS. THIS IS THE DUMBEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN. WHY CAN'T IT BE BASED OFF OF RADIALS FROM THE VOR LIKE OTHER TCA'S? I DO REALIZE THE VOR IS 5 MILES FROM THE ARPT. I LIVE IN PHOENIX AND I DON'T THINK I COULD PICK OUT THOSE ROADS, MUCH LESS SOMEONE WHO IS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AREA. A BETTER SYS WOULD BE BETTER. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: DISCUSSED THE TCA DESIGN WITH THE FAC MGR. HE SAID THAT A COMMITTEE WAS FORMED TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE DESIGN. THE COMMITTEE WAS MADE UP OF MOST AVIATION FACTIONS IN PHX AREA, INCLUDING AOPA. SINCE THE VOR IS NOT LOCATED ON THE ARPT, THE NAVAID IS USED ONLY FOR A FEW OF THE TCA RADIALS--MOST USE THE ILS DME. IN ADDITION, THEY HAVE USED ROADS AND STREETS FOR MANY OF THE AREAS. WHILE THIS MAY CAUSE PROBS WITH NON FAMILIAR PLTS, IT SEEMS TO WORK WELL FOR LCL PLTS. THE MGR SAID THE TCA SEEMS TO BE WORKING VERY WELL, AND ALTHOUGH HE HAS RECEIVED SOME COMPLAINTS, THEY HAVE BEEN FEW.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.