Air carrier widebody transport captain's complaint about a talking radio altimeter.

Attributes
ACN	185986
Time
Date	199108
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	185986
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

A 'talking radio altimeter' has been added to company large transport aircraft. It is a serious distraction during the last 500 ft of approach and may be just enough to cause an accident. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information. Reporter claims that 3 large transport's are presently equipped with the 'talking radio altimeter' and considers it a 'real hazard' and a 'terrible distraction'. He stated that there is no volume control to reduce the voice announcements that occur at 500 ft, 300, 150, 50, etc. Other aircraft are scheduled for this equipment in the future. Reporter emphasized that there is too much going on in the cockpit during this phase of landing to have another distraction.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB CAPT'S COMPLAINT ABOUT A TALKING RADIO ALTIMETER.

Narrative: A 'TALKING RADIO ALTIMETER' HAS BEEN ADDED TO COMPANY LGT ACFT. IT IS A SERIOUS DISTR DURING THE LAST 500 FT OF APCH AND MAY BE JUST ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR CLAIMS THAT 3 LGT'S ARE PRESENTLY EQUIPPED WITH THE 'TALKING RADIO ALTIMETER' AND CONSIDERS IT A 'REAL HAZARD' AND A 'TERRIBLE DISTR'. HE STATED THAT THERE IS NO VOLUME CTL TO REDUCE THE VOICE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT OCCUR AT 500 FT, 300, 150, 50, ETC. OTHER ACFT ARE SCHEDULED FOR THIS EQUIP IN THE FUTURE. RPTR EMPHASIZED THAT THERE IS TOO MUCH GOING ON IN THE COCKPIT DURING THIS PHASE OF LNDG TO HAVE ANOTHER DISTR.

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.