MD-82
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Distraction; Human-Machine Interface
Other Unwanted Situation
Procedure; Human Factors; Chart Or Publication; Aircraft
At the start of my last trip from IAD; when I was boarding the aircraft the inbound crew reported that they were about to submit a safety awareness report because they had missed one of the altitude restrictions while flying the new GIBBZ ONE arrival. Therefore; on my return to IAD at the end of the trip; the First Officer and I thoroughly pre-briefed the arrival procedure which has eight altitude restrictions and two airspeed restrictions over the course of 80 miles. Even though we had only a 30 KT tail wind; we had to descend aggressively with idle power and full speed brakes to comply with all restrictions. I asked the Washington ARTCC Controller if other crews had said they were having difficulty with the procedure and said yes other crews were complaining that it was requiring the use of all drag devices to comply. Fall and winter are coming very soon and with them much stronger tail winds and common use of anti-icing. As difficult as it was to comply with the restrictions with a 30 KT tail wind and clear weather; the restrictions on this arrival will be impossible to comply with in the prevailing conditions of fall and winter. In addition; the numerous crossing restrictions require the full attention of both pilots; making it difficult to comply with other required duties such as checklists; approach briefings; and PA's. This procedure has shifted all responsibilities to the flight crews and is setting crews up for a violation. I very strongly recommend this procedure be reviewed and changed before this occurs.
Forewarned by another flight crew; the pilots of an MD-82 found themselves barely able to comply with the altitude restrictions on the GIBBZ RNAV STAR to IAD by employing full speed brake extension and idle thrust. When queried by the flight crew ATC advised they had received previous similar complaints.