Dispatched with the area navigation system inoperative; a dhc-8 flight crew experienced multiple fai...

Narrative:

We were operating with the RNAV MEL'd; filed from our departure airport via XXX YYY ZZZ to our destination. The captain checked the flight plan and route flight against release and enroute charts and I advised ATC that aircraft was /a [slant alpha] equipped (no RNAV). Multiple times during flight we were told to proceed direct to [a waypoint] and we had to advise ATC we were unable. After crossing YYY and turning to ZZZ we had no course guidance as we were outside the service area of the ZZZ VOR and there are no published airways from YYY to ZZZ. We advised ATC we were unable to obtain course guidance. We were given a heading of 055; then direct when able. We flew that heading with no knowledge how far we were from YYY; what the winds were; or time to station. Situational awareness was significantly degraded due to no navigational references. Dispatch didn't change release to reflect the MEL. ATC didn't check to see if we were RNAV capable. [We the] flight crew [were] unsure about the service capabilities of vors. We should check routes to make sure navigation can be maintained throughout flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Dispatched with the Area Navigation System inoperative; a DHC-8 flight crew experienced multiple failures of ATC to recognize their /A [slant alpha] status and were given a direct route clearance they were unable to fly due to being below the MRA for the 200 NM leg.

Narrative: We were operating with the RNAV MEL'd; filed from our departure airport via XXX YYY ZZZ to our destination. The Captain checked the flight plan and route flight against release and enroute charts and I advised ATC that aircraft was /A [slant alpha] equipped (no RNAV). Multiple times during flight we were told to proceed direct to [a waypoint] and we had to advise ATC we were unable. After crossing YYY and turning to ZZZ we had no course guidance as we were outside the service area of the ZZZ VOR and there are no published airways from YYY to ZZZ. We advised ATC we were unable to obtain course guidance. We were given a heading of 055; then direct when able. We flew that heading with no knowledge how far we were from YYY; what the winds were; or time to station. Situational awareness was significantly degraded due to no navigational references. Dispatch didn't change release to reflect the MEL. ATC didn't check to see if we were RNAV capable. [We the] flight crew [were] unsure about the service capabilities of VORs. We should check routes to make sure navigation can be maintained throughout flight.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	883198
Time
Date	201004
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Dash 8-100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Dispatched with the area navigation system inoperative; a dhc-8 flight crew experienced multiple failures of ATC to recognize their /a [slant alpha] status and were given a direct route clearance they were unable to fly due to being below the mra for the 200 NM leg.