MD80 flight crew operate in rvsm airspace with improper equipment.

Attributes
ACN	727703
Time
Date	200702
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sns.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 30000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa.artcc tower : sdf.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
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
ASRS Report	727703
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	727701
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : 3
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Flew at FL300 without asking ATC to provide non rvsm separation. Dispatch sent us an ACARS asking us if we'd asked ATC for the separation. We then descended back down to FL280. I did not notice that the dispatch release did indicate the aircraft was not rvsm capable. I feel that the lack of any MEL/cdl concerning the altimeters may have contributed to the issue going unnoticed. There were never any traffic conflicts. The altimeter check at FL300 was; 'captain; 29960 ft; first officer; 29980 ft; stby; 30;030 ft.' I feel that creating and using an MEL or cdl may help prevent any future incidents.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLT CREW OPERATE IN RVSM AIRSPACE WITH IMPROPER EQUIP.

Narrative: FLEW AT FL300 WITHOUT ASKING ATC TO PROVIDE NON RVSM SEPARATION. DISPATCH SENT US AN ACARS ASKING US IF WE'D ASKED ATC FOR THE SEPARATION. WE THEN DESCENDED BACK DOWN TO FL280. I DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE DISPATCH RELEASE DID INDICATE THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RVSM CAPABLE. I FEEL THAT THE LACK OF ANY MEL/CDL CONCERNING THE ALTIMETERS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ISSUE GOING UNNOTICED. THERE WERE NEVER ANY TRAFFIC CONFLICTS. THE ALTIMETER CHECK AT FL300 WAS; 'CAPT; 29960 FT; FO; 29980 FT; STBY; 30;030 FT.' I FEEL THAT CREATING AND USING AN MEL OR CDL MAY HELP PREVENT ANY FUTURE INCIDENTS.

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.