Narrative:

Aircraft swap in ZZZ for final flight. Previous crew had shut down power and left the aircraft; so I had to do a full alignment. This resulted in a navigation data out of date alert. This alert reminded me of chart changes for ZZZ1 with effective date of (same date). I changed the database to the new date; pulled out my chart changes; and told the captain what I was doing so he could update his. He noted that if we had not done a full alignment; we would not have received the alert. He decided to call dispatch to confirm the switch to the new database. He asked me to check the manual for direction. I could not find any guidance in the manual. I called ZZZ clearance delivery to ask if the new ZZZ1 procedures had gone into effect. They called the ZZZ1 TRACON supervisor; and relayed to me that 'they were not aware of any changes at ZZZ1 anytime in the near future.' the captain said dispatch had spoken to the tmu (traffic management for ZZZ1; I had to ask) and was informed that the new changes would take effect later. The effective date of commercial chart changes has been nebulous in my mind since I started using them. I understand the practical purpose of changing approach procedures at a certain time; but I assume that commercial chart changes and database changes occur at a standardized time. I have never seen a time on commercial charts. If it is something other than that; I need some more training or at least a note on the WX packet to clear up any confusion.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR PILOT QUESTIONS THE HOUR OF DAY WHEN FMS DATABASE AND COMMERCIAL ARPT CHARTS BECOME EFFECTIVE.

Narrative: ACFT SWAP IN ZZZ FOR FINAL FLT. PREVIOUS CREW HAD SHUT DOWN PWR AND LEFT THE ACFT; SO I HAD TO DO A FULL ALIGNMENT. THIS RESULTED IN A NAV DATA OUT OF DATE ALERT. THIS ALERT REMINDED ME OF CHART CHANGES FOR ZZZ1 WITH EFFECTIVE DATE OF (SAME DATE). I CHANGED THE DATABASE TO THE NEW DATE; PULLED OUT MY CHART CHANGES; AND TOLD THE CAPT WHAT I WAS DOING SO HE COULD UPDATE HIS. HE NOTED THAT IF WE HAD NOT DONE A FULL ALIGNMENT; WE WOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED THE ALERT. HE DECIDED TO CALL DISPATCH TO CONFIRM THE SWITCH TO THE NEW DATABASE. HE ASKED ME TO CHK THE MANUAL FOR DIRECTION. I COULD NOT FIND ANY GUIDANCE IN THE MANUAL. I CALLED ZZZ CLRNC DELIVERY TO ASK IF THE NEW ZZZ1 PROCS HAD GONE INTO EFFECT. THEY CALLED THE ZZZ1 TRACON SUPVR; AND RELAYED TO ME THAT 'THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY CHANGES AT ZZZ1 ANYTIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.' THE CAPT SAID DISPATCH HAD SPOKEN TO THE TMU (TFC MGMNT FOR ZZZ1; I HAD TO ASK) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE NEW CHANGES WOULD TAKE EFFECT LATER. THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF COMMERCIAL CHART CHANGES HAS BEEN NEBULOUS IN MY MIND SINCE I STARTED USING THEM. I UNDERSTAND THE PRACTICAL PURPOSE OF CHANGING APCH PROCS AT A CERTAIN TIME; BUT I ASSUME THAT COMMERCIAL CHART CHANGES AND DATABASE CHANGES OCCUR AT A STANDARDIZED TIME. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TIME ON COMMERCIAL CHARTS. IF IT IS SOMETHING OTHER THAN THAT; I NEED SOME MORE TRAINING OR AT LEAST A NOTE ON THE WX PACKET TO CLEAR UP ANY CONFUSION.

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.