Large transport captain thinks the complexity of the dca departure procedure is overly complex.

Attributes
ACN	453885
Time
Date	199911
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca.airport
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca.tracon tower : dca.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	departure : noise abatement
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	453885
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control none taken : insufficient time
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
Airport	procedure or policy : dca.airport

Narrative:

This procedure for takeoff is too complex when other problems arise on takeoff, such as power or navigation problems. On our takeoff that morning, the LNAV was slow to respond. The PF was slow to turn, thus getting our flight close to the prohibited area. At about 4000 ft, the PF, trying to put the autoplt on, was unsuccessful, thus letting the aircraft get slow for the flap confign. Captain was distraction by ATC changing frequency. PF was a new hire and new to the aircraft. He had a hard time flying the aircraft with no automation. There should be more basic hand flying in IOE.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT CAPT THINKS THE COMPLEXITY OF THE DCA DEP PROC IS OVERLY COMPLEX.

Narrative: THIS PROC FOR TKOF IS TOO COMPLEX WHEN OTHER PROBS ARISE ON TKOF, SUCH AS PWR OR NAV PROBS. ON OUR TKOF THAT MORNING, THE LNAV WAS SLOW TO RESPOND. THE PF WAS SLOW TO TURN, THUS GETTING OUR FLT CLOSE TO THE PROHIBITED AREA. AT ABOUT 4000 FT, THE PF, TRYING TO PUT THE AUTOPLT ON, WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, THUS LETTING THE ACFT GET SLOW FOR THE FLAP CONFIGN. CAPT WAS DISTR BY ATC CHANGING FREQ. PF WAS A NEW HIRE AND NEW TO THE ACFT. HE HAD A HARD TIME FLYING THE ACFT WITH NO AUTOMATION. THERE SHOULD BE MORE BASIC HAND FLYING IN IOE.

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.