B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness; Confusion; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Equipment / Tooling; Aircraft
During preflight at DTW; our flight plan route was as follows 'DUNKS.J70.PMM...' our PDC said cleared PALACE 7 Departure; so we loaded the PALACE 7. When doing the Route/Legs check; I noticed that the waypoint 'ALPHE' was not in the box but it was on the flight plan Legs page as a point between DUNKS and PMM. Crosschecking the PALACE 7 Departure also did not show a point called ALPHE; but instead showed a point called 'LESSY.' We called Clearance Delivery to clarify; and he indicated that he had come across this issue before; that LESSY and ALPHE were about 1.5 miles apart; both along J70; but that if we removed the PALACE 7 Departure; that ALPHE would no longer be displayed in our legs page. Since we were cleared for the PALACE 7; we elected to leave it in the box and I just entered LESSY in the fix page.After takeoff; ATC eventually cleared us direct ALPHE; on course. To summarize: the flight plan showed 'DUNKS - J70 - PMM' the PALACE 7 shows 'DUNKS - LESSY - PMM' along J709. The legs page after entering the PALACE 7 showed 'DUNKS - ALPHE - PMM.' The High Chart said 'DUNKS - J709 - PMM' with no waypoints between DUNKS and PMM. The Low Chart showed DUNKS - LESSY - etc. - PMM' along V170; with no 'ALPHE.' So; we could not find the fix 'ALPHE' on the PALACE 7; High or Low charts; but it is in the FMS database as well as a fix that ATC cleared us to. How are supposed to navigate to an uncharted fix? This was very confusing and I don't think it is a good idea to have ATC assign a fix or have a fix on the flight plan legs that we cannot find on a chart. Perhaps Jeppesen or ATC can add the fix to the charts if they are going to use them; or a note on a 10-7 page would help alleviate the confusion?
A B737NG pilot discovered after entering the PALACE 7 Departure during preflight; that departure waypoint LESSY was replaced by high altitude airway waypoint ALPHE; approximately 1.8 NM prior it. Both waypoints are on J70 but LESSY is a departure waypoint while ALPHE is a J70/J34 intersection.