B767 crew enters mnps area with TCASII inoperative.

Attributes
ACN	434635
Time
Date	199904
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : prawn
State Reference	NF
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : czqx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	434635
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Aircraft Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Our flight entered the rvsm transition area at prawn intersection (N57 12.2 W059 10.0) en route to valie intersection (N53 37.5 W058 08.4) at FL280. The TCASII was inoperative. Shortly thereafter gander center reported that we were in radar contact, and as is the custom, asked for our requested altitude. Absent guidance from either the MEL or the orientation chart, I requested and was cleared to FL350. During the climb, the controller asked that we confirm that we were only mnps equipped. If the rvsm transition area has the same restrs as the rvsm area or if the restr also applies while under radar contact, I am unaware. In either case, additional information might be added to the MEL or orientation chart.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 CREW ENTERS MNPS AREA WITH TCASII INOP.

Narrative: OUR FLT ENTERED THE RVSM TRANSITION AREA AT PRAWN INTXN (N57 12.2 W059 10.0) ENRTE TO VALIE INTXN (N53 37.5 W058 08.4) AT FL280. THE TCASII WAS INOP. SHORTLY THEREAFTER GANDER CTR RPTED THAT WE WERE IN RADAR CONTACT, AND AS IS THE CUSTOM, ASKED FOR OUR REQUESTED ALT. ABSENT GUIDANCE FROM EITHER THE MEL OR THE ORIENTATION CHART, I REQUESTED AND WAS CLRED TO FL350. DURING THE CLB, THE CTLR ASKED THAT WE CONFIRM THAT WE WERE ONLY MNPS EQUIPPED. IF THE RVSM TRANSITION AREA HAS THE SAME RESTRS AS THE RVSM AREA OR IF THE RESTR ALSO APPLIES WHILE UNDER RADAR CONTACT, I AM UNAWARE. IN EITHER CASE, ADDITIONAL INFO MIGHT BE ADDED TO THE MEL OR ORIENTATION CHART.

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.