Air carrier medium large transport altitude deviation crossing restriction not met.

Attributes
ACN	89620
Time
Date	198806
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aml
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7000
ASRS Report	89620
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I have found on a fairly regular basis that the latest technology equipment ie FMC/CDU/ACARS is causing a great deal of time being spent--eyes and ears in the cockpit regardless of WX. This personal reference is to the fact that during descent 20 west of armel VOR we were 1000' high on initial restriction to be at 11000' 20 west aml, we were at 120 degrees 20 west aml. Due to slow spool up time of the computer to calculate our necessary descent time and rate. At this point another restriction was given 5 DME west of aml at 8000', which we were able to comply with. The point being, a lack of practical experience utilizing this equipment in cockpit causes these deviations and the time delay in computer spool up to divulge the information is also critical.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALT DEVIATION CROSSING RESTRICTION NOT MET.

Narrative: I HAVE FOUND ON A FAIRLY REGULAR BASIS THAT THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT IE FMC/CDU/ACARS IS CAUSING A GREAT DEAL OF TIME BEING SPENT--EYES AND EARS IN THE COCKPIT REGARDLESS OF WX. THIS PERSONAL REF IS TO THE FACT THAT DURING DSCNT 20 W OF ARMEL VOR WE WERE 1000' HIGH ON INITIAL RESTRICTION TO BE AT 11000' 20 W AML, WE WERE AT 120 DEGS 20 W AML. DUE TO SLOW SPOOL UP TIME OF THE COMPUTER TO CALCULATE OUR NECESSARY DSCNT TIME AND RATE. AT THIS POINT ANOTHER RESTRICTION WAS GIVEN 5 DME W OF AML AT 8000', WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH. THE POINT BEING, A LACK OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE UTILIZING THIS EQUIP IN COCKPIT CAUSES THESE DEVIATIONS AND THE TIME DELAY IN COMPUTER SPOOL UP TO DIVULGE THE INFO IS ALSO CRITICAL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.