Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Distraction
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication; Procedure
The flight was assigned the RNAV 23 approach to Runway 23 into FWA. The Commercial Plate has an ambiguous note. The black circle 2 note on the 12-3 plate states 1;520 FT applies to LNAV only approaches but it is not possible to ascertain exactly how it applies to the LNAV only approaches. The NOS charts show that there is a level off at 1;520 FT between AKEWS and BABAC and that level off is not depicted clearly on the Commercial Chart. One could assume from the Commercial Chart that 1;520 FT is required but is not clear which point to which point that altitude would apply. The Commercial Plate should be revised to clearly denote 1;520 FT is a level off altitude between AKEWS and BABAC for LNAV only approaches as well as the MDA of 1;300 FT after BABAC.
The reporter believes that the descent constraint at BABAC with Auburn's altimeter setting is 1;500 FT and then a descent to 1;360 FT is permitted as the VNAV minimum. There is a great deal of confusion about this approach and it should be clarified and republished.
An air carrier Captain on the FWA RNAV 23 was confused by the Commercial Chart Note 2 which constrains a descent at BABAC to 1;500 FT when using the Auburn altimeter setting but does not clearly indicate what the descent minimum is after BABAC.