B747-400
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Other / Unknown
Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Chart Or Publication; Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
The BOLKI 2L SID for Runway 08 at ETAR shows a hold down at 1;300 MSL (500 AGL) until 3 miles. The Flight Director caused us to balloon through this altitude by 300 FT. We corrected. Change the SID to allow for a turn at 1;300 FT without a hold down.
BOLKI 2L SID requires 082 heading to cross RMS 3 DME at 1;300 FT MSL; (519 FT AGL); then left turn to 015 heading to intercept RMS 060 radial to BOLKI; climb to 4;000 FT. A 519 FT AGL hold down; after takeoff; until 3 DME; (2 NM from departure end of Runway 08) is an UNSAFE maneuver. We should NOT accept this clearance except that this maneuver is given pseudo legitimacy; because it is on a published SID; this would otherwise; be considered reckless; non-standard; operation of the aircraft. I do not believe a 519 FT AGL level off; and hold down; after takeoff; is in compliance with TERPS criteria; for minimum level off altitude after takeoff. Aside from the fact that a 500 FT AGL level off after takeoff is UNSAFE and an accident waiting to happen; the autoflight; (flight director and autopilot); are unable to fly the maneuver without overshoot of the 1;300 FT level off altitude. The hold down altitude is over shot by about 300 FT. Attempts to correct back to 1;300 FT MSL sets off a GPWS 'DON'T SINK' warning; due to sink rate below 1;000 FT AGL. The company should immediately prohibit the use and acceptance of the BOLKI 2 SID form Runways 08 or 09 at ETAR/RMS. Due to the 1;300 FT MSL; (519 FT AGL); hold down; this is an UNSAFE maneuver; particularly at night or IMC; and a recipe for CFIT. Company Safety should investigate if this clearance is in compliance with TERPS criteria; and bring the safety implications of a 519 FT AGL hold down/level off immediately after takeoff; to the attention of Ramstein AFB. For safety reasons; this procedure should be modified; and the low level hold down removed.
B747-400 flight crew reports that the BOLKI 2L SID departing Runway 8 at ETAR requires a 519 FT level off until 3 DME from ETAR. The flight guidance system and GPWS are not designed to operate at this low altitude.