Air carrier commuter PIC complains of FARS that do not mandate the installation of altitude alert devices on light transport aircraft and the airline management policies that do not unilaterally purchase and install alerters to alleviate the aircraft equipment problem.

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Attributes
ACN	186178
Time
Date	199108
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid tower : fai
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise 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 : 4400 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	186178
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

First officer is PF. We were cleared to 8000 ft. He appeared to have leveled at 8000 ft. I was unsure of the route after aab so I had the chart up looking up the proper radial. He seemed to be interested in what I was looking at also. When I put the chart down we were at 8500 ft. I instructed him to go back to 8000 ft which he did. We were also changing frequencys at the time. ATC did not point out the problem but I felt it important to fill this out as I see a solution to the problem. Altitude alerters would help. Every time I fill one of these out I mention this. Our airline is too cheap to invest in this and the FAA is more interested in expensive TCAS and cvrs. Both have their purpose but if altitude busts are such a serious crime then why is the FAA not forcing the installation of altitude alerters. If your surveys of this report and others indicate a need for altitude alerters, then please hit the FAA over the head with it. I know it would help us in the commuters.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR COMMUTER PIC COMPLAINS OF FARS THAT DO NOT MANDATE THE INSTALLATION OF ALT ALERT DEVICES ON LTT ACFT AND THE AIRLINE MGMNT POLICIES THAT DO NOT UNILATERALLY PURCHASE AND INSTALL ALERTERS TO ALLEVIATE THE ACFT EQUIP PROBLEM.

Narrative: FO IS PF. WE WERE CLRED TO 8000 FT. HE APPEARED TO HAVE LEVELED AT 8000 FT. I WAS UNSURE OF THE RTE AFTER AAB SO I HAD THE CHART UP LOOKING UP THE PROPER RADIAL. HE SEEMED TO BE INTERESTED IN WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT ALSO. WHEN I PUT THE CHART DOWN WE WERE AT 8500 FT. I INSTRUCTED HIM TO GO BACK TO 8000 FT WHICH HE DID. WE WERE ALSO CHANGING FREQS AT THE TIME. ATC DID NOT POINT OUT THE PROBLEM BUT I FELT IT IMPORTANT TO FILL THIS OUT AS I SEE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. ALT ALERTERS WOULD HELP. EVERY TIME I FILL ONE OF THESE OUT I MENTION THIS. OUR AIRLINE IS TOO CHEAP TO INVEST IN THIS AND THE FAA IS MORE INTERESTED IN EXPENSIVE TCAS AND CVRS. BOTH HAVE THEIR PURPOSE BUT IF ALT BUSTS ARE SUCH A SERIOUS CRIME THEN WHY IS THE FAA NOT FORCING THE INSTALLATION OF ALT ALERTERS. IF YOUR SURVEYS OF THIS RPT AND OTHERS INDICATE A NEED FOR ALT ALERTERS, THEN PLEASE HIT THE FAA OVER THE HEAD WITH IT. I KNOW IT WOULD HELP US IN THE COMMUTERS.

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.