Narrative:

Lax probably is the best example of a wording/display problem we have. Take the civit 2 profile. We may at a point transition to 24R. From civit in we are told to do something in relation to named intersection, ie, limma, downe, fuelr, arnes or denay, royal, merce. We do not display these. What we do see is DME. Every time approach refers to an intersection we must look at an approach plate. Not too safe. Would it not be more prudent to say 'at 30 DME' do so and so? Tell us something we see, not something we will memorize or we have to look up on a chart. We're spending too much time with our head in the cockpit, not out where it could be.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG CAPT'S COMPLAINT ABOUT APCH CTL USING INTXN NAMES INSTEAD OF DME DISTANCE DURING ARR INTO LAX.

Narrative: LAX PROBABLY IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF A WORDING/DISPLAY PROBLEM WE HAVE. TAKE THE CIVIT 2 PROFILE. WE MAY AT A POINT TRANSITION TO 24R. FROM CIVIT IN WE ARE TOLD TO DO SOMETHING IN RELATION TO NAMED INTXN, IE, LIMMA, DOWNE, FUELR, ARNES OR DENAY, ROYAL, MERCE. WE DO NOT DISPLAY THESE. WHAT WE DO SEE IS DME. EVERY TIME APCH REFERS TO AN INTXN WE MUST LOOK AT AN APCH PLATE. NOT TOO SAFE. WOULD IT NOT BE MORE PRUDENT TO SAY 'AT 30 DME' DO SO AND SO? TELL US SOMETHING WE SEE, NOT SOMETHING WE WILL MEMORIZE OR WE HAVE TO LOOK UP ON A CHART. WE'RE SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME WITH OUR HEAD IN THE COCKPIT, NOT OUT WHERE IT COULD BE.

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.