Citation Excel (C560XL)
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 70; Flight Crew Total 15000; Flight Crew Type 500
Distraction; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Chart Or Publication
This is a safety of flight issue that needs to be addressed regarding the new procedures on SIDs and STARs. In the aircraft I fly you cannot [program the SID or STAR] without loading the runways for departures and arrivals when you are cleared for them. I fly Garmin; Honeywell; and Collins products and the problem is the same for all of them. For takeoffs; we do not find out the runway we need to load until we have all engines running (a waste of fuel) or; if they change runways; we have to stop taxiing to re-program the FMS. For arrivals; we do not find out the landing runway until we are in the descent mode and should be heads outside; but instead; we are once again programming with our heads down. Look at the new charts and consider the confusion in the cockpit with the large number of intersections and altitude/airspeed requirements. This is not the time to review the procedures and have a busy cockpit with ATC; descent checklist; weather; etc. This is an immediate SAFETY OF FLIGHT issue that must be addressed. There are too many departures/approaches for anyone to become familiar with them and; in MEM; there are procedures that are only for Airline X so why are they in the paper books for the masses? Only Airline X should have them.All crossing restrictions; speed restrictions and frequencies should be in BOLD BLACK on the charts. Most of the General Aviation and Corporate aircraft cannot meet any of the speed restrictions so any improvement you anticipated from these changes has been negated. I feel that the new procedures are a significant SAFETY of FLIGHT [issue].
A C-560XL pilot expressed concern that recent RNAV SIDs and STARs are overly complex and complained that ATC issued them during periods of already high work loads; thus compromising the flight crew's ability to properly program; review; brief; and implement them and still maintain situational awareness with respect to their aircraft's track; performance; and compliance with the restrictions associated with their revised clearance. The reporter cited such procedures at MEM as pertinent examples.