MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Human-Machine Interface; Workload; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Procedure
We were filed on the FRDMM ONE RNAV ARRIVAL into DCA. When I reviewed this arrival prior to leaving ZZZ I knew with the forecast winds it would not be flyable. My Dispatcher was unable to refile me on anything better because the old arrivals had been removed.The FRDMM ONE; THE NUMMY ONE; AND THE TRUPS ONE ARRIVALS INTO DCA are dangerous. THE AARCH ONE AND KAYLA ONE RNAV ARRIVALS INTO STL are dangerous! These procedures are going to cause deviations and violations! They are not safe! Take one look at them; If you don't get why they are not safe you should not be involved in aviation! I've got more important things to do descending into high density environments in all kinds of weather than try to comply with a computer geek's idea of a standard terminal arrival! You got to be kidding me! How the FAA ever let these things out is totally beyond me.
The reporter advised he is flying MD-80 aircraft that require intensive flight crew monitoring and frequent intervention to attempt to comply with the multiple and closely spaced waypoint restrictions common to these STARs. He further advised of first hand reports from pilots of aircraft with more 'sophisticated autoflight capability' who have suffered equally frustrating encounters with the procedures. He was curious as to how the procedures were test flown or otherwise vetted for flight crew/autoflight system friendliness prior to their implementation because his opinion is that they could not have been test flown and approved by line airmen encountering them for the first time. The reporter was particularly concerned that alternative procedures previously user friendly for his aircraft are being removed and only the new procedures; incompatible with his aircraft's capability; remain; leaving few alternatives for a non-disruptive arrival into those airports.
An MD-80 Captain described concerns regarding the implementation of complex optimized descent procedures into DCA and STL; stressing the concurrent removal of previously active STARs which were compatible with his fleet's autoflight/FMS capabilities; the result of which places excessive demands on the flight crew.