Narrative:

Just before pushback; we received an ACARS text message that we had been rerouted over SUMMT4 and that release 2 was ready. Release 2 route matched the message. The pre departure clearance showed two routes. One was an incomplete version of our original route using the dawgs 4; and a complete version of our new route. The ACARS west/B came back with data for release 2; reinforcing that the new data was correct. I have not encountered this pre departure clearance format for a route change. As far as I can tell there is nothing in any manual explaining how and why you would have two routes on a pre departure clearance or the proper format. My assumption was that the second route would be listed second; and a route with no clearance limit was not a valid route; so I discounted the dawgs route. Maybe it is not a good idea to put a route on a pre departure clearance that has no validity or reason for being there. Why do I want or need to know where I am not going? If the FAA has a reason to put where I am not going on a clearance; why don't they write english words indicating what they really want instead of nonsense dashes; or asterisks. Compounding the problem is the extreme pressure from the company to get the flight off on time. So there was no time for reflection with the last minute change. If a well rested 25;000 hour pilot with no history of enforcement actions cannot get through this minefield without a deviation; human factors may need another look.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A flight crew described the confusion which resulted from a ACARS PDC with two routes and how they chose the incorrect routing. They question why during a reroute the invalid clearance is included in the final PDC paper work.

Narrative: Just before pushback; we received an ACARS text message that we had been rerouted over SUMMT4 and that Release 2 was ready. Release 2 route matched the message. The PDC showed two routes. One was an incomplete version of our original route using the DAWGS 4; and a complete version of our new route. The ACARS W/B came back with data for Release 2; reinforcing that the new data was correct. I have not encountered this PDC format for a route change. As far as I can tell there is nothing in any manual explaining how and why you would have two routes on a PDC or the proper format. My assumption was that the second route would be listed second; and a route with no clearance limit was not a valid route; so I discounted the DAWGS route. Maybe it is not a good idea to put a route on a PDC that has no validity or reason for being there. Why do I want or need to know where I am NOT going? If the FAA has a reason to put where I am not going on a clearance; why don't they write English words indicating what they really want instead of nonsense dashes; or asterisks. Compounding the problem is the extreme pressure from the Company to get the flight off on time. So there was no time for reflection with the last minute change. If a well rested 25;000 hour pilot with no history of enforcement actions cannot get through this minefield without a deviation; human factors may need another look.

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.