Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure
While on rest period was notified by Captain that the wrong database was in the FMS for the aircraft. It was [another aircraft type] load rather than a 777 load. Maintenance put the wrong database into the FMS. The aircraft flew for quite some time without crew awareness and catching the mistake. Verification steps need to be addressed. The code for the specific load is not common knowledge.
Reporter stated the database is navigation information only; no performance data changes. Further stated it is not obvious from the FMS database page what aircraft it applies to.
I was on duty and performed the task of updating the FMS software together with my colleague. We downloaded the latest version from the website and saved [it] to the computer desktop. We transferred it to the floppy disk and updated the FMS software on to the [B777] aircraft per [procedure] and facted out the item. I was informed later that the incorrect FMS data was uploaded on to the aircraft and the FMS data uploaded was actually for [another aircraft type]. We might have inadvertently transferred the wrong file from the desktop into the disk.Perform additional verification by having another person validate the upload. Additional coding on the data to clearly specify the designation. File names [for the two aircraft were similar]. Although they have different file names; when opened on the PC it has disk 1 and disk 2 and both contain the same data [designation] which could lead to possible transfer error or overlooked if downloaded simultaneously into the desktop.
B777 First Officer Relief Pilot reported the aircraft was operated for 'quite some time' with an FMS Navigation database installed that was for another aircraft type. Maintenance Technician responsible for the data load suggested improvements to prevent a future occurrence.