A320
Dispatch Dispatcher
Other / Unknown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Equipment / Tooling; Procedure
During pre-planning phase of release Dispatch system recommended NO ALTERNATE for flight. This recommendation was in spite of the weather forecast of winds gusting to 33 KTS. The runway configuration Runway XX L/R and YY puts a 29 KT crosswind for Runway XX. [The arrival airport] is in ground delay program for this reason and has a high potential of staying in a ground delay program for a while. Dispatcher caught weather and added destination of ZZZ1. This crosswind configuration also was the limit of the company prescribed operational limitation for this fleet of aircraft (29G35 KTS) A319/320/321 PH 1.3.1 operational limits. Cause; Dispatch system does not factor in considerations for alternate and does not assist in computing fuel as required by FAR 121.647. It does not factor in the operational limits of company fleets and the overall weather picture.  System provides multiple messages in a condensed time period to provide distractions to the Dispatcher's primary duties of operational control and safe monitoring of company flights. System provides false information and has a high potential of causing at minimum departure delays for adding alternates and fuel if caught by flight crew and Dispatcher. System provides high potential of causing illegal flights if not caught and could be a major contributing factor of illegal or delayed flights. This automation is distracting and goes against the Safety Management System (SMS) and Threat Error Management (TEM) models of the SMS and provides additional safety barriers at a time when the company is trying to reduce them. Suggestions; remove this system: This is a hindrance to the professionalism; experience and judgment of the Dispatch group. This system also provides many barriers to safe operation including multiple and conflicting messages over a condensed time period. This system is also activated at a time when the company is closing dispatch desks providing already increased workload. System also provides multiple NOT RECOMMENDED messages AFTER Dispatch release is calculated increasing message traffic and possibility of errors/conflicting information. Dispatch system uses inaccurate and potentially illegal information to base the recommendation.
Dispatcher voiced concern regarding the functionalities of the current decision making tool providing a number of examples of the limits encountered.