B717 flight crew encounters operational difficulties when their failure to properly interpret/unders...

Attributes
ACN	775780
Time
Date	200802
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B717 (Formerly MD-95)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	775780
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Chart Or Publication Aircraft
Primary Problem	Chart Or Publication
Situations
Publication	NOTAM

Narrative:

We departed ZZZ1 en route to ZZZ2. The captain was getting an annual line check too. We departed to ZZZ2 which had 1/2 SM visibility in fog. Center advised that the RVR was 400 ft and asked us what we needed. The CAT III approach to runway 4 was unavailable because runway 4 was closed. To land on runway 12R we needed 4000 ft RVR. We went into holding. Our filed alternate was ZZZ3. At this time the #2 FMS went out. Since the only way to tune a navigation is through the FMS there is no MEL relief for a total FMS failure. We changed our alternate to ZZZ4 and diverted. Maintenance replaced the inoperative FMS and we departed for ZZZ2. Because runway 4 was closed; we should have dispatched under exemption and had a second alternate. ZZZ1 had good WX and wouldn't have changed our fuel requirement. The captain did check the NOTAMS; but only noticed that the ILS to runway 4 was out and not that the runway was closed. We were planning on the RNAV approach to runway 4 which needs 1/2 mi visibility. NOTAMS are way too difficult to read. Why have a page of NOTAMS concerning runway 4 approach minimums when the runway is closed? The entire format is difficult to read and not user friendly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B717 FLT CREW ENCOUNTERS OPERATIONAL DIFFICULTIES WHEN THEIR FAILURE TO PROPERLY INTERPRET/UNDERSTAND NOTAMS FOR DESTINATION RESULTS IN IMPROPER DISPATCH WITHOUT A SECOND FILED ALTERNATE.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED ZZZ1 ENRTE TO ZZZ2. THE CAPT WAS GETTING AN ANNUAL LINE CHK TOO. WE DEPARTED TO ZZZ2 WHICH HAD 1/2 SM VISIBILITY IN FOG. CTR ADVISED THAT THE RVR WAS 400 FT AND ASKED US WHAT WE NEEDED. THE CAT III APCH TO RWY 4 WAS UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE RWY 4 WAS CLOSED. TO LAND ON RWY 12R WE NEEDED 4000 FT RVR. WE WENT INTO HOLDING. OUR FILED ALTERNATE WAS ZZZ3. AT THIS TIME THE #2 FMS WENT OUT. SINCE THE ONLY WAY TO TUNE A NAV IS THROUGH THE FMS THERE IS NO MEL RELIEF FOR A TOTAL FMS FAILURE. WE CHANGED OUR ALTERNATE TO ZZZ4 AND DIVERTED. MAINT REPLACED THE INOP FMS AND WE DEPARTED FOR ZZZ2. BECAUSE RWY 4 WAS CLOSED; WE SHOULD HAVE DISPATCHED UNDER EXEMPTION AND HAD A SECOND ALTERNATE. ZZZ1 HAD GOOD WX AND WOULDN'T HAVE CHANGED OUR FUEL REQUIREMENT. THE CAPT DID CHK THE NOTAMS; BUT ONLY NOTICED THAT THE ILS TO RWY 4 WAS OUT AND NOT THAT THE RWY WAS CLOSED. WE WERE PLANNING ON THE RNAV APCH TO RWY 4 WHICH NEEDS 1/2 MI VISIBILITY. NOTAMS ARE WAY TOO DIFFICULT TO READ. WHY HAVE A PAGE OF NOTAMS CONCERNING RWY 4 APCH MINIMUMS WHEN THE RWY IS CLOSED? THE ENTIRE FORMAT IS DIFFICULT TO READ AND NOT USER FRIENDLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

B717 flight crew encounters operational difficulties when their failure to properly interpret/understand NOTAMS for destination results in improper dispatch without a second filed alternate.