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Runway switch after clearance received. Crew flies SID as written. Controller expected level at lower altitude.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 181027 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199106 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : ewr |
| State Reference | NJ |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : n90 |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Flight Phase | climbout : initial |
| Route In Use | departure sid : sid |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 1700 |
| ASRS Report | 181027 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
At gate received ACARS clearance for ewr 3 SID, maintain 2500'. This was normal altitude for runway 4 departure. Prior to taxi-out received new ATIS for runway 22 departure. Ewr 3 SID for 22 says maintain 5000', so we changed altitude to 5000', thinking they had switched runways after issuing the clearance. On taxi-out ground and or tower did not mention the non-standard altitude of 2500' for departure on runway 22. On initial contact with departure control we informed them we were climbing to 5000' and departure did not say otherwise. At 3500', departure control asked what altitude we were passing and we said 3500', climbing to 5000'. They said they had wanted 2500', but continue climb to 5000'. This hazard exists at ewr with ACARS automated clrncs. When switching runways you expect 2500' for runway 4, but when the airport is turned around to 22 and you have gotten an ACARS clearance for ewr SID #3, it is for 5000' when using runway 22. Therefore, when using a non standard altitude like 2500' for runway 22, ground or tower should verbally confirm 2500' prior to takeoff with the crew.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: RWY SWITCH AFTER CLRNC RECEIVED. CREW FLIES SID AS WRITTEN. CTLR EXPECTED LEVEL AT LOWER ALT.
Narrative: AT GATE RECEIVED ACARS CLRNC FOR EWR 3 SID, MAINTAIN 2500'. THIS WAS NORMAL ALT FOR RWY 4 DEP. PRIOR TO TAXI-OUT RECEIVED NEW ATIS FOR RWY 22 DEP. EWR 3 SID FOR 22 SAYS MAINTAIN 5000', SO WE CHANGED ALT TO 5000', THINKING THEY HAD SWITCHED RWYS AFTER ISSUING THE CLRNC. ON TAXI-OUT GND AND OR TWR DID NOT MENTION THE NON-STANDARD ALT OF 2500' FOR DEP ON RWY 22. ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH DEP CTL WE INFORMED THEM WE WERE CLBING TO 5000' AND DEP DID NOT SAY OTHERWISE. AT 3500', DEP CTL ASKED WHAT ALT WE WERE PASSING AND WE SAID 3500', CLBING TO 5000'. THEY SAID THEY HAD WANTED 2500', BUT CONTINUE CLB TO 5000'. THIS HAZARD EXISTS AT EWR WITH ACARS AUTOMATED CLRNCS. WHEN SWITCHING RWYS YOU EXPECT 2500' FOR RWY 4, BUT WHEN THE ARPT IS TURNED AROUND TO 22 AND YOU HAVE GOTTEN AN ACARS CLRNC FOR EWR SID #3, IT IS FOR 5000' WHEN USING RWY 22. THEREFORE, WHEN USING A NON STANDARD ALT LIKE 2500' FOR RWY 22, GND OR TWR SHOULD VERBALLY CONFIRM 2500' PRIOR TO TKOF WITH THE CREW.
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.