A319
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Aircraft
The aircraft had an MEL for inoperative TCAS. The MEL stated only flight in contiguous 48 states allowed; however; the aircraft was being dispatched to Canada. The MEL also stated that if the aircraft was dispatched out of the 48 contiguous states dispatch would have to contact the foreign FIR (Flight Information Region) for authorization to fly non-TCAS equipped aircraft into foreign RVSM airspace. I contacted dispatch and requested a printed statement saying this aircraft was authorized into Canadian FIR with no TCAS. After this request the dispatcher realized he had not contacted the Canadian FIR to get approval for a non-TCAS operation and we were re-dispatched into the Canadian FIR at FL 280 below RVSM airspace. Had I not questioned the original dispatch release (we were originally flight planned at FL320) and the flight had been flown on the original flight plan it would have violated Canadian RVSM requirements resulting in an operational violation.
A319 Captain reported he was planned into Canadian airspace with inoperative TCAS without complying with restrictions associated with that condition.