Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Type 1640
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Training / Qualification; Workload
Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Company Policy; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors
Ops Alert for MROC Departures 'RW7 Departure at SJO [MROC]'; exceedance of Terrain Threat bulletin; combined with 10-7 pages that differ; and the assignment of the COCOS 5 RNAV departure caused significant confusion. The bulletin says for RW7 departures you have to depart RNAV/VNAV off; turn at 4 DME and maintain V2+20. The diagram shows exceedance of the R113 radial on many RW7 departures and no other types of departures leaving MROC. The 10-7 page says the same thing if you are flying the POAS4 departure. (The bulletin says RW7 departures period). The flight plan had us filed direct RADON; with no SID assigned. ATC assigned us the COCOS5 RNAV; which is a straight out departure; over lower terrain; with an engine failure procedure to turn back to TIO between the first two waypoints. The COCOS5 requires a significant climb gradient; with a note specifically stating you must make the climb gradient. We estimated we could make the climb gradient based on distance and alt; required climb gradient table to at least above the MSA for the area. The departure has restrictions based on arrival traffic that go up to over FL230. We flew the departure and at about 15;000 feet were cleared to climb unrestricted. Although we had zero deviations from out clearance; I don't think we could have cleared the climb restrictions. We crossed the FL200 restriction at 19.3; and the FL230 restriction at about FL200; 270 KTS. Confusion results for the bulletin implying that the only way to leave MROC on RW7 is to follow the bulletin guidance (Do we have to tell ATC we cannot accept anything but the POAS4 departure?) How do we know we can meet climb gradient requirements for the COCOS[5]? Dispatch didn't assign it. There is no note on the 10-7 pages saying the POAS4 is the only acceptable departure. If we fly the COCOS[5] off runway 7; can we use LNAV/VNAV? Bulletin only addresses RW7 departures. Requires LNAV/VNAV off. On a minor note; the COCOS 5 requires a NADP1 departure according to the Takeoff Data Message. It's not in the 10-7 page.
B737 First Officer reported confusing and conflicting guidance for departures from MROC.