Incorrect programming of IRS navigation. Unsuitable for atlantic crossing, divert to alternate.

Attributes
ACN	223125
Time
Date	199210
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fra
State Reference	FO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pne
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 9800 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	223125
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departure from frankfurt, germany, to dulles washington airport. Position entered into IRS navigation appeared to have been incorrect. In the interest of safety we determined that the atlantic crossing could not have been safely performed. The captain had both first officer's elected to land at london's heathrow airport. The flight was non eventful and followed all far's and company's policies and SOP's. I feel this unfortunate situation could have been avoided during preflight. However there was a substantial amount of traffic in the cockpit during cockpit setup. From flight attendant problems to ramp service personnel problems to traffic slot problems. Again I would like to emphasize due to the degree of problems from these individuals we found a problem of our own, a break down of our SOP's. It is my belief that there needs to be a better understanding and touched on more strongly during the training of these individuals, far too often safety is taken for granted from a day to day operation, by other departments.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INCORRECT PROGRAMMING OF IRS NAV. UNSUITABLE FOR ATLANTIC XING, DIVERT TO ALTERNATE.

Narrative: DEP FROM FRANKFURT, GERMANY, TO DULLES WASHINGTON ARPT. POS ENTERED INTO IRS NAV APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN INCORRECT. IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY WE DETERMINED THAT THE ATLANTIC XING COULD NOT HAVE BEEN SAFELY PERFORMED. THE CAPT HAD BOTH FO'S ELECTED TO LAND AT LONDON'S HEATHROW ARPT. THE FLT WAS NON EVENTFUL AND FOLLOWED ALL FAR'S AND COMPANY'S POLICIES AND SOP'S. I FEEL THIS UNFORTUNATE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED DURING PREFLT. HOWEVER THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TFC IN THE COCKPIT DURING COCKPIT SETUP. FROM FLT ATTENDANT PROBLEMS TO RAMP SVC PERSONNEL PROBLEMS TO TFC SLOT PROBLEMS. AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE DUE TO THE DEG OF PROBLEMS FROM THESE INDIVIDUALS WE FOUND A PROBLEM OF OUR OWN, A BREAK DOWN OF OUR SOP'S. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND TOUCHED ON MORE STRONGLY DURING THE TRAINING OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, FAR TOO OFTEN SAFETY IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED FROM A DAY TO DAY OP, BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

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.