Test Question

[bomberbubba]

Ok all you dispatchers......and pilots feel free to chime in.....lets see what you know! And you better be able to back it up!!!


Part 121 domestic operations. Destination alternate requirements


Senario: Flight scheduled to depart at 2020z and scheduled to arrive destination at 2159z


Destination forecast

KXXX 241858Z 241918 34012G22KT P6SM SCT025 BKN050
TEMPO 2024 6SM -SHRA OVC025
FM0000 33016G25KT P6SM SCT025 OVC035
TEMPO 0004 5SM -SHRASN OVC025
FM0600 34014G23KT P6SM BKN035 PROB30 0610-SHSN
FM1200 31015G25KT P6SM SCT040


Destination SA's

METAR KXXX 241745Z 05009KT 10SM BKN085 BKN120 14/06 A2985
METAR KXXX 241850Z 06008KT 10SM BKN100 12/06 A2987
METAR KXXX 241955Z 02021G25KT 10SM SCT065 10/05 A2986
METAR KXXX 242055Z 01021G27KT 10SM BKN012 OVC038 06/03 A2990
METAR KXXX 242155Z 36017G23KT 2 1/2SM BR OVC008 03/02 A2995
METAR KXXX 242255Z 36017G25KT 10SM OVC010 01/M01 A2999

Questions: 1. Is an alternate required for dispatch release of this flight?
2. Is an alternate required to be placed on this flight after it is enroute?
3. Is the dispatcher required to notify the capt of the changing conditions?
4. Is the capt required to notify dispatch of the changing conditions?
5. Is there a safety of flight issue with this flight?

If im missing any information for you to formulate your answers just ask and i will provide other details.

 

[exactlywrong]

Answers ...

1. NO
2. NO, alternate is off of FORECAST (TAF) only, and prefilght planning purposes.
3. Technically YES, it's common courtesy to update the PIC with adverse WX conditions, and other safety issues. Would I bother the PIC with a BKN012 enroute in a METAR ? Probably not.
4. Technically YES, same answer as 3 , PIC and DX must communicate any information about adverse WX changes BUT in this case I really don't see any reason for it. Light rain showers at arvl forecast time ?
5. Safety of Flight ? I would need to know more, I see no NOTAMS, Convective SIGMETS, What RWY are they landing on? Any MEL's ?

Let me give you and example of a Forecast that would concern me ...

KXXX 241858Z 241918 34012G22KT 1/2SM OVC005
TEMPO 2024 1/4SM +FZRA OVC002

DEST RWY 16 is only RWY available
CAT II OTS

hope it helps

 

[bomberbubba]

Thanks for the reply! Just trying to get a consensus. Relating to question #5. ILS rwy 1 with 200 and 1/2 mins, everything working, no restrictive mel's.

oh and no convective sigmets......did you see that forecast??? They are never wrong!!! HaHa.

 

[SKC]

Hey Bomber, your setup made it sound like this would be a crappy forecast. That's severe clear for lots of places.

 

[exactlywrong]

ILS rwy 1, gusty HW, but no problem
200 - 1/2 SM, again no problem

I see no safety issues.

 

[ss9e]

Ok all you dispatchers......and pilots feel free to chime in.....lets see what you know! And you better be able to back it up!!!


Part 121 domestic operations. Destination alternate requirements


Senario: Flight scheduled to depart at 2020z and scheduled to arrive destination at 2159z


Destination forecast

KXXX 241858Z 241918 34012G22KT P6SM SCT025 BKN050
TEMPO 2024 6SM -SHRA OVC025
FM0000 33016G25KT P6SM SCT025 OVC035
TEMPO 0004 5SM -SHRASN OVC025
FM0600 34014G23KT P6SM BKN035 PROB30 0610-SHSN
FM1200 31015G25KT P6SM SCT040


Destination SA's

METAR KXXX 241745Z 05009KT 10SM BKN085 BKN120 14/06 A2985
METAR KXXX 241850Z 06008KT 10SM BKN100 12/06 A2987
METAR KXXX 241955Z 02021G25KT 10SM SCT065 10/05 A2986
METAR KXXX 242055Z 01021G27KT 10SM BKN012 OVC038 06/03 A2990
METAR KXXX 242155Z 36017G23KT 2 1/2SM BR OVC008 03/02 A2995
METAR KXXX 242255Z 36017G25KT 10SM OVC010 01/M01 A2999

Questions: 1. Is an alternate required for dispatch release of this flight?
2. Is an alternate required to be placed on this flight after it is enroute?
3. Is the dispatcher required to notify the capt of the changing conditions?
4. Is the capt required to notify dispatch of the changing conditions?
5. Is there a safety of flight issue with this flight?

If im missing any information for you to formulate your answers just ask and i will provide other details.

1. no
2. no
3. no, the time the wx was reported down you were 4 minutes from touchdown. you probably already checked the atis or the tower has given you the wx. it would be disruptive to try to contact you this close to touchdown.
4. no
5. no

 

[bomberbubba]

SKC---That is my point!!! What are your answers to the test?

 

[CRJDispatchKid]

"Questions: 1. Is an alternate required for dispatch release of this flight?
2. Is an alternate required to be placed on this flight after it is enroute?
3. Is the dispatcher required to notify the capt of the changing conditions?
4. Is the capt required to notify dispatch of the changing conditions?
5. Is there a safety of flight issue with this flight? "

My answers:
1.) No (121.619/121.625)
2.) No (Alternate never required, wx forecast at dispatch wasgood and x-winds within limits)
3.) Probably a good idea, but in this case it's too late. Flight is likely cleared for approach when new METAR came out. Sending an ACARS would break sterile cockpit rule.
4.) Hopefully dispatch beats CA to punch, but in this case that conversation wouldn't happen.
5.) Not unless there's a smoking hole at the end of the runway and you get a call from tower. Joking aside, it's not unsafe unless outlined per FAR 121.627.

Is this a trick question? I'm just trying to figure out what you're trying to get out of posting this?

 

[bomberbubba]

OK CRJ KId--Here is what im trying to get out of posting this. Are you familiar with the ASAP program? I had a pilot ASAP me because he felt that I should have called him up to notify him of the wx change and add an alternate to him. The ERC, which consists of a member of the pilots union, faa, and a company representive, wouldnt accept my report of the incident and was trying to get the chief dispatcher to take me off line because of my incompetence???? I just wanted to see what other carriers do in this situation where the weather changes enroute to require an alternate. Now i know that alternates are only for planning purposes and that if an alternate goes below alternate mins its time to find another alternate that is legal, but this bullsheet of using the ASAP program to report something like this is unwarrented!! In no way was there ever a safety of flight issue!

MY ANSWERS:
1.NO
2.NO
3.NO
4.NO
5.NO

BOMBERBUBBA

 

[ShutupandFly]

Hey bomberbubba,
I'm sorry you have to deal with this situation. It sounds to me like the capt. had some pucker factor going and wanted to blow off steam in someones direction and the dispatchers are always easy targets. You are requiered to advise the PIC of any changes that could affect safty of flight unless they are in a critial phase of flight. You are not reqiered to add an altn if both you and the pic agree the flight can be continued safely once the flight is airborne (unless your company policy demands you do). I usualy deal with these problems with an acars like this

METAR AT XXX CURRENTLY SHOWING 2 1/2SM AND OVC 008. ILS XX STILL OPERATIONAL. I BELIEVE IT IS SAFE TO CONTINUE FLIGHT TO XXX. DO YOU CONCUR

If the Pic comes back with anything but agreement I immediatly send him another message to divert him to the nearest airport he can land at.