Narrative:

Last month 2 crews conducted automatic-lndgs in response to MEL notes that stated flight confidence checks were due on their aircraft. They did not notice their flight plans and logbook also had MEL items that prohibited automatic-landing. The approach, landing, go around section of our operating manuals requires our compliance with all operating limitations when conducting any flight confidence check. We must review the logbook to ensure there are no existing conditions that must be corrected prior to executing the flight confidence check. I read this message and a few thoughts entered my mind. 1) why was the 'lmp' status taken off the cockpit panel (MD80)? 2) I've seen several 'misplaced' MEL 22-89 and MEL 22-90 placards not being placed in the green 'lmp' holder in the logbook. 3) inoperative stickers not being placed on or near inoperative components. (Why would you do an autoland if the autoland button on the flight guidance panel had an inoperative sticker on it?) 4) why not put a sticker (like we do for a first flight of the day AC crosstie check with the APU-generator inoperative) above the captain's ADI that says 'aircraft restr to CAT I WX minima?' it cost nothing to do and would be a visual reminder that you could actually see (out of sight out of mind.)

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 CAPT RPTS CONCERN ABOUT ACFT AUTOLAND STATUS PLACARDS REMOVED FROM THE INST PANEL AND INOP STICKER PLACARD PLACEMENT.

Narrative: LAST MONTH 2 CREWS CONDUCTED AUTO-LNDGS IN RESPONSE TO MEL NOTES THAT STATED FLT CONFIDENCE CHKS WERE DUE ON THEIR ACFT. THEY DID NOT NOTICE THEIR FLT PLANS AND LOGBOOK ALSO HAD MEL ITEMS THAT PROHIBITED AUTO-LNDG. THE APCH, LNDG, GAR SECTION OF OUR OPERATING MANUALS REQUIRES OUR COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OPERATING LIMITATIONS WHEN CONDUCTING ANY FLT CONFIDENCE CHK. WE MUST REVIEW THE LOGBOOK TO ENSURE THERE ARE NO EXISTING CONDITIONS THAT MUST BE CORRECTED PRIOR TO EXECUTING THE FLT CONFIDENCE CHK. I READ THIS MESSAGE AND A FEW THOUGHTS ENTERED MY MIND. 1) WHY WAS THE 'LMP' STATUS TAKEN OFF THE COCKPIT PANEL (MD80)? 2) I'VE SEEN SEVERAL 'MISPLACED' MEL 22-89 AND MEL 22-90 PLACARDS NOT BEING PLACED IN THE GREEN 'LMP' HOLDER IN THE LOGBOOK. 3) INOP STICKERS NOT BEING PLACED ON OR NEAR INOP COMPONENTS. (WHY WOULD YOU DO AN AUTOLAND IF THE AUTOLAND BUTTON ON THE FLT GUIDANCE PANEL HAD AN INOP STICKER ON IT?) 4) WHY NOT PUT A STICKER (LIKE WE DO FOR A FIRST FLT OF THE DAY AC CROSSTIE CHK WITH THE APU-GENERATOR INOP) ABOVE THE CAPT'S ADI THAT SAYS 'ACFT RESTR TO CAT I WX MINIMA?' IT COST NOTHING TO DO AND WOULD BE A VISUAL REMINDER THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE (OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND.)

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.