B767-300 captain noted the air carrier flight planning computer ignores maximum authority/authorized...

Attributes
ACN	599027
Time
Date	200311
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jfk.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	599027
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Upon planning flight in dispatch using the company computer flight planning system, I discovered that there is a maximum authority/authorized altitude of FL320 on J-6 from saame to mrb. When planning a flight using company computer, the system completely disregards the maximum authority/authorized altitude restr on airways and immediately plans the flight at the most 'efficient' altitude. In the case of this flight, the altitude 'picked' by maximum authority/authorized altitude was FL350. If I hadn't been checking the air chart for other reasons, I would have never even known maximum authority/authorized altitude had planned this altitude. This is an unacceptable situation. Our flight planning system is allowing illegal flight planning to take place, completely disregarding airway altitude restrs, without any alert to the dispatcher whatsoever. I just wonder how many times this will occur (and has occurred) before it is corrected, or worse yet, it causes an ATC conflict for a flight en route.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767-300 CAPT NOTED THE ACR FLT PLANNING COMPUTER IGNORES MAX AUTH ALT RESTR AS LISTED ON THE COMMERCIAL HIGH ALT CHARTS.

Narrative: UPON PLANNING FLT IN DISPATCH USING THE COMPANY COMPUTER FLT PLANNING SYS, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A MAX AUTH ALT OF FL320 ON J-6 FROM SAAME TO MRB. WHEN PLANNING A FLT USING COMPANY COMPUTER, THE SYS COMPLETELY DISREGARDS THE MAX AUTH ALT RESTR ON AIRWAYS AND IMMEDIATELY PLANS THE FLT AT THE MOST 'EFFICIENT' ALT. IN THE CASE OF THIS FLT, THE ALT 'PICKED' BY MAX AUTH ALT WAS FL350. IF I HADN'T BEEN CHKING THE AIR CHART FOR OTHER REASONS, I WOULD HAVE NEVER EVEN KNOWN MAX AUTH ALT HAD PLANNED THIS ALT. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SIT. OUR FLT PLANNING SYS IS ALLOWING ILLEGAL FLT PLANNING TO TAKE PLACE, COMPLETELY DISREGARDING AIRWAY ALT RESTRS, WITHOUT ANY ALERT TO THE DISPATCHER WHATSOEVER. I JUST WONDER HOW MANY TIMES THIS WILL OCCUR (AND HAS OCCURRED) BEFORE IT IS CORRECTED, OR WORSE YET, IT CAUSES AN ATC CONFLICT FOR A FLT ENRTE.

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.

B767-300 captain noted the air carrier flight planning computer ignores maximum authority/authorized altitude restr as listed on the commercial high altitude charts.