The first officer of B737-200 is unable to see the aft alerter from his normal seated position.

Attributes
ACN	641440
Time
Date	200412
Day	Thu
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	641440
Events
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : altitude alert other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

The altitude alert controller on this aircraft is located on the left side of the forward electronic control panel. This position prevents the display to be seen by the first officer. The display is blocked by the altitude selector knob and by the throttles when they are in normal flight position. When the first officer is the PNF, it is difficult to set the controller when the flap lever is in the 'up' position, and/or the throttles are advanced. This creates a distraction, especially during critical phases of flight. Suggest moving the altitude alert controller to the center of the panel above the radar display to allow easy access and visibility from both seats.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE FO OF B737-200 IS UNABLE TO SEE THE AFT ALERTER FROM HIS NORMAL SEATED POS.

Narrative: THE ALT ALERT CTLR ON THIS ACFT IS LOCATED ON THE L SIDE OF THE FORWARD ELECTRONIC CTL PANEL. THIS POS PREVENTS THE DISPLAY TO BE SEEN BY THE FO. THE DISPLAY IS BLOCKED BY THE ALT SELECTOR KNOB AND BY THE THROTTLES WHEN THEY ARE IN NORMAL FLT POS. WHEN THE FO IS THE PNF, IT IS DIFFICULT TO SET THE CONTROLLER WHEN THE FLAP LEVER IS IN THE 'UP' POS, AND/OR THE THROTTLES ARE ADVANCED. THIS CREATES A DISTR, ESPECIALLY DURING CRITICAL PHASES OF FLT. SUGGEST MOVING THE ALT ALERT CONTROLLER TO THE CTR OF THE PANEL ABOVE THE RADAR DISPLAY TO ALLOW EASY ACCESS AND VISIBILITY FROM BOTH SEATS.

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.