<< >> NASA ASRS Report 797666, August 2008

MD80 flight crew is unable to make crossing restrictions due to excessive FMS reprogramming necessitated by clearance changes.

Attributes
ACN	797666
Time
Date	200808
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 13300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : atl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 7200
ASRS Report	797666
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Cleared for the canuk 7 arrival into atl. Received clearance to cross canuk intersection at 12000 ft and maintain 250 KTS in descent. Captain was flying aircraft. Descent began to top of descent point as calculated by FMS. Procedures followed to minimize fuel burn in descent and to comply with all ATC clrncs. Captain noted that aircraft appeared high on the profile and deployed speedbrakes to maintain speed of 250 KTS and attempt to make crossing restr at canuk. As aircraft approached canuk; ATC questioned crew if able to make restr. Crew reported they would be high at canuk. ATC reported no conflicts. Flight continued to atl with no further problems. After review of the events; I believe the problem was caused by FMS inputs requiring a runway change; a speed change and an altitude change prior to canuk. Inputs were made correctly; but not as quickly as required for the FMS to calculate the proper descent profile. In the future; I will plan accordingly for the quick changes required on the arrival.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLT CREW IS UNABLE TO MAKE CROSSING RESTRICTIONS DUE TO EXCESSIVE FMS REPROGRAMMING NECESSITATED BY CLRNC CHANGES.

Narrative: CLRED FOR THE CANUK 7 ARR INTO ATL. RECEIVED CLRNC TO CROSS CANUK INTXN AT 12000 FT AND MAINTAIN 250 KTS IN DSCNT. CAPT WAS FLYING ACFT. DSCNT BEGAN TO TOP OF DSCNT POINT AS CALCULATED BY FMS. PROCS FOLLOWED TO MINIMIZE FUEL BURN IN DSCNT AND TO COMPLY WITH ALL ATC CLRNCS. CAPT NOTED THAT ACFT APPEARED HIGH ON THE PROFILE AND DEPLOYED SPEEDBRAKES TO MAINTAIN SPD OF 250 KTS AND ATTEMPT TO MAKE XING RESTR AT CANUK. AS ACFT APCHED CANUK; ATC QUESTIONED CREW IF ABLE TO MAKE RESTR. CREW RPTED THEY WOULD BE HIGH AT CANUK. ATC RPTED NO CONFLICTS. FLT CONTINUED TO ATL WITH NO FURTHER PROBS. AFTER REVIEW OF THE EVENTS; I BELIEVE THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY FMS INPUTS REQUIRING A RWY CHANGE; A SPD CHANGE AND AN ALT CHANGE PRIOR TO CANUK. INPUTS WERE MADE CORRECTLY; BUT NOT AS QUICKLY AS REQUIRED FOR THE FMS TO CALCULATE THE PROPER DSCNT PROFILE. IN THE FUTURE; I WILL PLAN ACCORDINGLY FOR THE QUICK CHANGES REQUIRED ON THE ARR.

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.