MD-11
Dispatch Dispatcher
Troubleshooting; Workload; Situational Awareness; Confusion; Human-Machine Interface
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL
General None Reported / Taken
Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Manuals
MEL XX-XX-02: restraint type; all 4 retractable. End restraints are inoperative/broken/missing was listed on XX.The MEL weight restrictions are cut off before the end of the MEL and several of the weight restrictions are not listing on the Flight Plan (FP)/ Release (RLS). This MEL was entered on xxaug15 and appears has been flying with the incomplete weights being listed on the FP/RLS.When pulling up MEL tab on [the computer program] there is an area where the MEL is entered by the line maintenance (placard) that states the restriction as stated in the MEL. There is another area above that is the ([maintenance] placard) where the [maintenance] enters the MEL and restrictions. In this case [maintenance] is entering the MEL (this is the information that will populate the FP/RLS) and because it is a long one; the information is being cut off after they have entered too many spaces.Example of what was written and cut off in mid restriction:Mel XX-XX-02: CARGO RESTRAINT SYSTEMS - LOWER (CENTER) COMPARTMENT RESTRAINTS. ALL 4 RETRACTA BLE END RESTRAINTS INOP. RESTRICT A1L THROUGH A4L AND A1R THROUGH A4R TO 12000; R ESTRICT A7L AND A7R TO 2400(HALF WIDTH). VOID A5L; A5 R; A6L; AND A6R FOR HALF W**at the end it stops at 'w' (this is what is going on the FP/RLS)The rest of the MEL reads as such:IDTH A1 THROUGH A7 WEIGHT LIMIT 5300 LBS WI               TH A5 AND A6 VOID.                                                 RETRACTABLE END RESTRAINTS INOP.I had several conversations with [maintenance]. He was most helpful in trying to figure out what is wrong since on his ([maintenance] placard) he shows the full text is typed in completely. It seems the problem is that what [maintenance] is allowed to type and what comes to the [computer program] are two different amounts of symbols and characters/spaces allowed. So this is cutting off the information in mid sentence along with the fact it wraps the words around onto different lines in the middle of the words. Sometimes this results in the numbers for a weight being on two different lines. This can make a weight on one line look like hundreds of lbs vs thousands.This is an on going safety issue and it has been determined that it was a computer issue with how much can go on each line (wrap around) along with the fact that [computer program] will only allow (3) lines of info for each MEL; once [maintenance] has reached that number (3 lines) it cuts off. [Maintenance] can enter the full information on the placard but it does not show to [maintenance] that the full MEL is not coming across to Global Operations Command Center.[maintenance] /MD11 and I tested this by having [maintenance] condense the information on [maintenance] placard. When he resent it to [computer program]; it added several more characters to the FP/RLS area/ MEL. He could not condense to add it all. This is a safety issue. If the dispatcher does not catch that the MEL cuts off then the FP/RLS is going out with partial information.This issue has come up many times and it does not seem that a correction is in the works. It has been explained that it is a computer issue but there doesn't seem to be any fix in the works.They need to fix the problem of the different computers not using the same code.In the meantime; I suggest that dispatchers not put the weight restrictions onto the FP/RLS.Dispatcher should just list the MEL along with the lock or equipment that is inoperative.Then a note that reads (see Advanced Requirement Definition (ARD) for restrictions)The crew needs to check the ARD for the restrictions; so these don't need to be taking up space on the FP/RLS along with the possibility of the information being incomplete of in accurate.The dispatcher will still make positive contact with ramp agent with all appropriate weight restrictions which should be obtained and verified from the original MEL placard (line maintenance entry) and cross checked with the MEL manualfor that aircraft type.
A MD-11 Dispatcher reported the company's computer system does not allow full MEL's to transfer from one computer to another sometimes cutting text off in mid sentence or creating new lines mid sentence so weights could be hundreds or thousands of pounds. Flight Plans and Releases are affected also.