A B757-200 crew asks about flying at high altitudes during an FAA issued solar flare alert.

Attributes
ACN	671342
Time
Date	200509
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : trm.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 39000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	671342
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Company
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

On flight san-den on sep/xa/05. Prior to departure; I had noticed that there was a major solar flare happening and that our 8 hour duty day was all within the FAA's alert area. Talked with captain about selection of lower altitude; but he indicated that our fom contains no direction to do so; and the increased fuel would not justify the move. While in cruise at FL390; I sent message to dispatch requesting severe WX advisories. They responded with report which showed R3; S3; G5 and also sent a key which indicated 'S3' indicated 'modify flight plan.' we asked what modifications should be made. He said the old rules called for us to fly FL310 and below north of 39 north and said management was being asked and that he'd let us know. We heard nothing further. The rest of our day was spent above FL370 in the FAA's warning area. I would just like to know why we have no domestic policy on solar events S3 and above when the FAA's map clearly shows that our entire day was spent in the alert area. If no policy is needed; then why does the FAA's map display how it does?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 CREW ASKS ABOUT FLYING AT HIGH ALTS DURING AN FAA ISSUED SOLAR FLARE ALERT.

Narrative: ON FLT SAN-DEN ON SEP/XA/05. PRIOR TO DEP; I HAD NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR SOLAR FLARE HAPPENING AND THAT OUR 8 HR DUTY DAY WAS ALL WITHIN THE FAA'S ALERT AREA. TALKED WITH CAPT ABOUT SELECTION OF LOWER ALT; BUT HE INDICATED THAT OUR FOM CONTAINS NO DIRECTION TO DO SO; AND THE INCREASED FUEL WOULD NOT JUSTIFY THE MOVE. WHILE IN CRUISE AT FL390; I SENT MESSAGE TO DISPATCH REQUESTING SEVERE WX ADVISORIES. THEY RESPONDED WITH REPORT WHICH SHOWED R3; S3; G5 AND ALSO SENT A KEY WHICH INDICATED 'S3' INDICATED 'MODIFY FLT PLAN.' WE ASKED WHAT MODIFICATIONS SHOULD BE MADE. HE SAID THE OLD RULES CALLED FOR US TO FLY FL310 AND BELOW N OF 39 NORTH AND SAID MGMNT WAS BEING ASKED AND THAT HE'D LET US KNOW. WE HEARD NOTHING FURTHER. THE REST OF OUR DAY WAS SPENT ABOVE FL370 IN THE FAA'S WARNING AREA. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHY WE HAVE NO DOMESTIC POLICY ON SOLAR EVENTS S3 AND ABOVE WHEN THE FAA'S MAP CLEARLY SHOWS THAT OUR ENTIRE DAY WAS SPENT IN THE ALERT AREA. IF NO POLICY IS NEEDED; THEN WHY DOES THE FAA'S MAP DISPLAY HOW IT DOES?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.