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Carj crew forgot to get the password before takeoff, for a flight into dca. The ZDC radar controller gave the crew the password over the VHF communication line.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 610847 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200403 |
| Day | Tue |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zdc.artcc |
| State Reference | NY |
| Altitude | msl single value : 33000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Regional Jet 700 ER&LR |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 2500 |
| ASRS Report | 610847 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Company Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Intra Facility Coordination Failure |
Narrative:
A password is required to enter potomac approach airspace and land at dca. Our company procedure requires the PIC to call the dispatcher before departing to get this password. I forgot to do this. I didn't realize this until we were about 200 mi from dca. We held for a while as we tried to figure out what to do. After a few mins, ATC gave us the password and we landed uneventfully. This problem was caused by 2 things: 1) I forgot to get the password. 2) a company policy that lets this happen. The reasons I forgot to get the password: I was rushed with a quick turn. There was a last min first officer and aircraft change. I had to eat and my wife was sick and I had to check on her. Also, the new first officer picked up the release without my knowledge. I usually pick it up and call the dispatcher at that time, but there was no release to pick up. The company password policy is ineffective and this problem has happened before and will happen again. There are at least 2 other easy ways to prevent this from happening: 1) put the password on the release. 2) do not send the release to the gate until the PIC calls the dispatcher.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: CARJ CREW FORGOT TO GET THE PASSWORD BEFORE TKOF, FOR A FLT INTO DCA. THE ZDC RADAR CTLR GAVE THE CREW THE PASSWORD OVER THE VHF COM LINE.
Narrative: A PASSWORD IS REQUIRED TO ENTER POTOMAC APCH AIRSPACE AND LAND AT DCA. OUR COMPANY PROC REQUIRES THE PIC TO CALL THE DISPATCHER BEFORE DEPARTING TO GET THIS PASSWORD. I FORGOT TO DO THIS. I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS UNTIL WE WERE ABOUT 200 MI FROM DCA. WE HELD FOR A WHILE AS WE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. AFTER A FEW MINS, ATC GAVE US THE PASSWORD AND WE LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. THIS PROB WAS CAUSED BY 2 THINGS: 1) I FORGOT TO GET THE PASSWORD. 2) A COMPANY POLICY THAT LETS THIS HAPPEN. THE REASONS I FORGOT TO GET THE PASSWORD: I WAS RUSHED WITH A QUICK TURN. THERE WAS A LAST MIN FO AND ACFT CHANGE. I HAD TO EAT AND MY WIFE WAS SICK AND I HAD TO CHK ON HER. ALSO, THE NEW FO PICKED UP THE RELEASE WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. I USUALLY PICK IT UP AND CALL THE DISPATCHER AT THAT TIME, BUT THERE WAS NO RELEASE TO PICK UP. THE COMPANY PASSWORD POLICY IS INEFFECTIVE AND THIS PROB HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE ARE AT LEAST 2 OTHER EASY WAYS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING: 1) PUT THE PASSWORD ON THE RELEASE. 2) DO NOT SEND THE RELEASE TO THE GATE UNTIL THE PIC CALLS THE DISPATCHER.
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.