B747 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Time Pressure; Human-Machine Interface; Distraction; Workload; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Human Factors; Company Policy
ZBAA Jeppesen (JEPP) STAR names have no relation to STAR names in FMC. Last minute [crews are scrambling] trying to select proper star in FMC especially when approach control changes assigned star at last minute. JEPP binder does not have STAR key page to match FMC stars with JEPP STARS.
His First Officer briefed him enroute as to the problem and they searched in advance for the two STARs most likely to be assigned. They determined that if any other were to be assigned they would respond 'unable' and request vectors. He advised his company has provided 'cheat sheets' pairing the disparate identifiers for other airports but had not done so for ZBAA. He responded with a profane guffaw to the analyst's question as to whether the 'new' company flight operations department had been proactive in resolving an issue like this; he submits reports and then abandons hope. The reporter was unable at this time to provide specific examples of the disparities because he had neither his flight bag nor access to an FMS at home but would call back after his next flight during which he would take note of a representative sample and call back.The reporter did; in fact; call back and provided the following examples. The first list is the STAR identifiers that appear in the FMC database and the second will be the presumably corresponding identifiers on the Jeppesen arrival pages. Note that all of these identifiers are proceeded by the letters 'KM' followed by a sequence of two to four letters and/or numbers. There are four additional identifiers--GITUM; DOCAR; VYK and BOBAK--each with multiple numbered arrivals similar to the KM series. The FMC database from which the flight crew must select a STAR by which the FMC will navigate the arrival identifies the 'KM' series as: B01; B36B; 001; 01; 018B; 019; 036B; 18B; 19; 36B; 701; 718b; 719; 736B. The Jeppesen approach plates for the same 'KM' series are identified as (again preceded by 'KM': 7A; 7B; 7C & 7F; 01A & 03A & 05A; 02A (STARS joined by '&' represent multiple 'named' arrivals on a single chart; a common practice in some international arenas).Note further that all of the 'KM' STARs are on pages that only include 'KM' procedures. The other series--GITUM; etc--may include arrivals of multiple series identifiers on a single page.
A B747-400 Captain advised the Jeppesen STAR identifiers for arrivals into ZBAA are not the same as the line selectable STARs in their FMS database.