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After multiple maintenance delays A320 is dispatched with one pack inoperative for FL340; maximum operating altitude is FL310 in this confign; flight crew descends once they realize the mistake.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 791165 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200806 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 34000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | A320 |
| 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 : atp |
| ASRS Report | 791165 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Company Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
Many delays; gate turn-back; and finally MEL for single pack operation. Countless unanswered ACARS from dispatch; I bet literally 10 in all. Finally called maintenance control and had them phone our dispatcher. Long story. Finally dispatched with single pack; but dispatcher did not change flight plan from original FL340 cruise. We were given FL340 and went there for approximately 5 mins before realizing the error for FL310 maximum on single pack. Descended immediately back to FL300. Dispatch not answering ACARS is a very; very; very serious situation. They don't even respond; you have no idea messages are even going through. What in the world is going on? If you send a message; even if they're busy; we should expect a reply within 60 seconds at the very least of message received. Not answering happens 90% of the time and is very serious. Almost all of our gate turn-back; maintenance; fuel burn; passenger angry; all of it could have been avoided if they'd simply answer the ACARS messages. I cannot in any terms; any way; stress how irritating and scary it is that our own dispatchers are not responding to us.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AFTER MULTIPLE MAINTENANCE DELAYS A320 IS DISPATCHED WITH ONE PACK INOPERATIVE FOR FL340; MAX OPERATING ALT IS FL310 IN THIS CONFIGN; FLT CREW DESCENDS ONCE THEY REALIZE THE MISTAKE.
Narrative: MANY DELAYS; GATE TURN-BACK; AND FINALLY MEL FOR SINGLE PACK OP. COUNTLESS UNANSWERED ACARS FROM DISPATCH; I BET LITERALLY 10 IN ALL. FINALLY CALLED MAINT CTL AND HAD THEM PHONE OUR DISPATCHER. LONG STORY. FINALLY DISPATCHED WITH SINGLE PACK; BUT DISPATCHER DID NOT CHANGE FLT PLAN FROM ORIGINAL FL340 CRUISE. WE WERE GIVEN FL340 AND WENT THERE FOR APPROX 5 MINS BEFORE REALIZING THE ERROR FOR FL310 MAX ON SINGLE PACK. DSNDED IMMEDIATELY BACK TO FL300. DISPATCH NOT ANSWERING ACARS IS A VERY; VERY; VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. THEY DON'T EVEN RESPOND; YOU HAVE NO IDEA MESSAGES ARE EVEN GOING THROUGH. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON? IF YOU SEND A MESSAGE; EVEN IF THEY'RE BUSY; WE SHOULD EXPECT A REPLY WITHIN 60 SECONDS AT THE VERY LEAST OF MESSAGE RECEIVED. NOT ANSWERING HAPPENS 90% OF THE TIME AND IS VERY SERIOUS. ALMOST ALL OF OUR GATE TURN-BACK; MAINT; FUEL BURN; PAX ANGRY; ALL OF IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THEY'D SIMPLY ANSWER THE ACARS MESSAGES. I CANNOT IN ANY TERMS; ANY WAY; STRESS HOW IRRITATING AND SCARY IT IS THAT OUR OWN DISPATCHERS ARE NOT RESPONDING TO US.
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.