Commercial Fixed Wing
Dispatch Dispatcher
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Time Pressure; Workload
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors; Equipment / Tooling
The Captain of one of my flights called and said that the filed altitude I gave him was below the MEA and they could not fly this route. I took a look at the chart and sure enough it was. The computer software automatically picks the default route and altitude. Due to work load and trusting this new system; I did not look at the filed route and cruise altitude since it was a short flight. I agreed with the Captain and amended the release appropriately. The Captain was satisfied and flight was on time.The computer software should have an error checker to prevent this. Also; with so many releases being generated in the morning; one simple factor--like winds aloft or payload issues--puts a kink in your train of thought. The feeling of getting behind puts a lot of pressure in your mind.
The Captain of an air carrier flight advised the Dispatcher that the altitude selected by the company's new dispatch computer software was below the MEA for the filed route. The Reporter confirmed the discovery and they agreed to an appropriate altitude.