Narrative:

We had to return to the gate to rectify a weight and balance issue. It is my understanding that when we return to blocks that we need a new flight plan. The only way we could figure to get a normal legible flight plan was to walk back from the gate to the printers in flight operations--a long walk. I know someone is going to point out I could print it on the cockpit printer or the dot matrix at the gate; but it was after midnight at that point and I needed a clear; correct; and legible flight plan.I was unaware that when you return to blocks the flight plan zeros out. We originally were up to release three and when we returned we went back to one again. So for this flight we had received at different times two release ones; two release twos; and one release three all for the same date. The second release two was the final. There needs to be better sequencing of the flight plans to avoid confusion.other things that happened were: the computer dropped all the weights; the reissued release one came up 120;000 pounds light and there is no easy catch for this other than having a lot of experience in the airplane and common sense.to put this issue in perspective; this release problem added to a flight that was a flurry of distractions as follows: a late aircraft change and then an aircraft late to the gate; one destination canceled due to volcanic ash needed to put bags and people on our aircraft; seating configuration change with aircraft change so passengers had to be rebooked into new seats; the first officer's communications were inoperative and required a last minute repair by maintenance; we had problems loading bags and a shift change which eventually caused a ramp problem and a return to the gate on a late night international flight. Everyone was tired.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Air Carrier Captain expressed frustration with almost all aspects of the process of getting the aircraft out of the gate and into the air on an all night; very early morning international departure. First among many problems were multiple problems obtaining a revised flight plan after returning to the gate due to weight manifest issues.

Narrative: We had to return to the gate to rectify a weight and balance issue. It is my understanding that when we return to blocks that we need a new flight plan. The only way we could figure to get a normal legible flight plan was to walk back from the gate to the printers in Flight Operations--a long walk. I know someone is going to point out I could print it on the cockpit printer or the dot matrix at the gate; but it was after midnight at that point and I needed a clear; correct; and legible flight plan.I was unaware that when you return to blocks the flight plan zeros out. We originally were up to release three and when we returned we went back to one again. So for this flight we had received at different times two release ones; two release twos; and one release three all for the same date. The second release two was the final. There needs to be better sequencing of the flight plans to avoid confusion.Other things that happened were: The computer dropped all the weights; the reissued release one came up 120;000 LBS light and there is no easy catch for this other than having a lot of experience in the airplane and common sense.To put this issue in perspective; this release problem added to a flight that was a flurry of distractions as follows: A late aircraft change and then an aircraft late to the gate; one destination canceled due to volcanic ash needed to put bags and people on our aircraft; seating configuration change with aircraft change so passengers had to be rebooked into new seats; the First Officer's communications were INOP and required a last minute repair by Maintenance; we had problems loading bags and a shift change which eventually caused a ramp problem and a return to the gate on a late night international flight. Everyone was tired.

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.