Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Weather
While being vectored for the ILS; we received a GLD UNSAFE caution message [Ground Lift Dump]. This occurred while being advised by ATC that the WX had just degraded to FZRA; followed by -FZRA. We completed the QRH and decided to divert (this was when we were advised that the precipitation had improved to -FZRA). We as a crew decided to continue to our alternate; which had better weather. Once in contact with approach; we declared an emergency and asked for ARFF; which was provided. My first officer was the pilot flying for the entire event; and commanded the autopilot off when we broke out on the approach (about 2500 FT). Although the aircraft was challenging for him to control; he performed an excellent landing under the conditions. We had an otherwise normal rollout; taxied to the gate and shut down the aircraft. The station made the jetway available and the passengers were deplaned (their overall impression of our handling of the emergency was overwhelmingly positive). We inspected the aircraft and gave the write up to Maintenance Control. After this I participated in a Safety debriefing with the Company; after which we were deadheaded to continue our trip.
CRJ200 Captain experiences a CAS message for GLD unsafe during vectors for the ILS; at the same time precipitation changes to FZRA. With the Ground Lift Dump failure; spoilers began deploying inflight uncommanded and the Captain elects to divert to a nearby alternate.