Narrative:

This is an issue of bad RNAV arrival terminology. Pilots are directional and when we hear south transition we naturally fly a southern pattern in our heads. Den has a different name for each directional transition which works. Msp has the runway 12 or 30 transition which works. The FAA needs to update these transitions that have the phrase landing south//north and just change it to a number; landing 18 transition.we had an hourly ATIS less than 40 minutes old; we briefed that information. Mem changed their configuration and ATIS with no notice to arrival aircraft 150 miles out. Flying into memphis; I received the ATIS when issued in the hour. Landing runways 36L 36R and 27. We briefed runway 36R and entered the correct arrival for that runway into the FMS and reviewed the southern transition and all of the altitude boxes and speeds.20 minutes later; memphis center issued clearance; descend via bluzz one arrival landing south transition. Knowing we just reviewed and briefed runway 36R; I glanced at my chart and confirmed bluzz arrival south transition fixes and altitudes. 10 minutes later ATC issued direct to a fix that was located on the landing south transition. I told him the fix was not on our route; we have the southern transition. He said mem is landing runway 18. Finding our error; we expedited to the fix and altitude advising ATC; we missed the crossing restriction by 2000 feet. We advised ATC that our ATIS said landing 36; he replied that they changed the configuration and ATIS more than 20 minutes ago. Update RNAV arrivals and make consistent with other major airports.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot reported not receiving the latest ATIS information for an airport and did not have the fix they were cleared to programmed in their FMS.

Narrative: This is an issue of bad RNAV arrival terminology. Pilots are directional and when we hear south transition we naturally fly a southern pattern in our heads. DEN has a different name for each directional transition which works. MSP has the runway 12 or 30 transition which works. The FAA needs to update these transitions that have the phrase landing south//north and just change it to a number; landing 18 transition.We had an hourly ATIS less than 40 minutes old; we briefed that information. MEM changed their configuration and ATIS with no notice to arrival aircraft 150 miles out. Flying into Memphis; I received the ATIS when issued in the hour. Landing Runways 36L 36R and 27. We briefed Runway 36R and entered the correct arrival for that runway into the FMS and reviewed the southern transition and all of the altitude boxes and speeds.20 minutes later; Memphis Center issued clearance; descend VIA Bluzz One arrival landing south transition. Knowing we just reviewed and briefed Runway 36R; I glanced at my chart and confirmed Bluzz arrival south transition fixes and altitudes. 10 minutes later ATC issued direct to a fix that was located on the landing south transition. I told him the fix was not on our route; we have the southern transition. He said MEM is landing Runway 18. Finding our error; we expedited to the fix and altitude advising ATC; we missed the crossing restriction by 2000 feet. We advised ATC that our ATIS said landing 36; he replied that they changed the configuration and ATIS more than 20 minutes ago. Update RNAV arrivals and make consistent with other major airports.

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.