A jet captain addressed the shortcomings of single FMC equipped aircraft to operate safely in comple...

Attributes
ACN	961354
Time
Date	201107
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	SCT.TRACON
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	FMS/FMC
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 162
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

The complexities of FMC intensive arrivals and departures leave older generation single-FMC jets as a threat to a successful passenger mission. The cross-cockpit complexities and the ridiculous equipment provided for one-FMC aircraft to conduct operations produce an unacceptable workload and constitute a hazard. All single-FMC aircraft need to be limited to a footprint that keeps them away from areas of intensive [RNAV] operations. [Their areas of operation] must be regulated immediately! The company must understand the importance of retiring these flying hazards as soon as possible.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A jet Captain addressed the shortcomings of single FMC equipped aircraft to operate safely in complex RNAV environments such as RNAV SIDs and STARs at high density airports.

Narrative: The complexities of FMC intensive arrivals and departures leave older generation single-FMC jets as a threat to a successful passenger mission. The cross-cockpit complexities and the ridiculous equipment provided for one-FMC aircraft to conduct operations produce an unacceptable workload and constitute a hazard. All single-FMC aircraft need to be limited to a footprint that keeps them away from areas of intensive [RNAV] operations. [Their areas of operation] must be regulated immediately! The Company must understand the importance of retiring these flying hazards as soon as possible.

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.

A jet captain addressed the shortcomings of single FMC equipped aircraft to operate safely in complex RNAV environments such as RNAV sids and stars at high density airports.