Fractional flight crew reported the FMS system on aircraft is outdated and cannot keep up with the runway changes; leading to an increased workload on the flight crew.
Synopsis
Fractional flight crew reported the FMS system on aircraft is outdated and cannot keep up with the runway changes; leading to an increased workload on the flight crew.
Narrative
Ongoing issue with operating the grossly outdated Honeywell FMZ in today's airspace system. Each time the landing runway is changed; the FMZ reloads the STAR and decides it must be began from the initial fix. So while conducting a descend via arrival ATC changes or adds a runway you are to use; add this change to our wonderful ancient FMS" and the aircraft drops the mandatory descent you are trying to comply with and begins a 180 turn to go back to the first fix on the STAR.So each time ATC changes your landing runway you must mentally commit to continuing the crossing restriction; choose vertical speed and heading; then authorize pilot not flying to change the landing runway and quickly enter a direct to the fix we were previously navigating to. Reselect navigation; then rejoin a new vertical path to the crossing restriction. Additionally; the limitations of this unit are leading to more and more things being removed from its database. Things that should load via menus are now no longer there; or worse; show the option to be chosen but load nothing. Example ILS 26L; BERBN transition to LAS. Choose all the options for this and the FMS will show them "Active" but only load the FAF and runway.Suggestions: I walk the ramp while on the road and check out the flight deck of our competitors aircraft and even our old aircraft that they bought. Frequently they have invested in Garmin upgrades to keep the airframe capable of navigation in 2025 vs. cutting edge last century tech. The workload and risk of utilizing this outmoded equipment. Invest in safety. We can't even do LNAV-VNAV."
Second reporter narrative
On the COKTL4 Arrival into LAS; when selected to do the ILS Y Runway 26L; several fixes between the end of the arrival at the fix BERBN and the initial approach fixes for the ILS are not included in the Honeywell FMZ 6000. When programmed properly; the FMS should go from the BERBN fix to BISHP; then HOGOG; then KODSE; then HUXAR to track inbound on the ILS from HUXAR. When programmed in the FMS; BERBN; BISHP; HOGOG; and KODSE are not included and are required to be manually put into the FMS. When asked which initial approach fix we would desire for the ILS BERBN is included but does not program any of the fixes into the FMS.When landing at LAS we were instructed to expect Runway 26L for landing while on the COKTL4 Arrival. Once near the end of the arrival; we were then instructed to land Runway 19L. Once set up in a downwind; LAS Tower instructed us to then land Runway 19R. After this; once set up on a base for the runway; LAS Tower instructed us to land Runway 19L. There was a total of four runway changes in the course of five minutes by the Tower.Upon arriving into LAS; the ramp did not have any wing walkers in between aircraft. We were unable to taxi on the centerline inside the ramp to be able to maneuver around aircraft and service vans.Suggestions: The suggestion I would make would be to allow the FMS to include the fixes on the approach chart into the FMS when the desired initial approach fix is chosen at BERBN.The suggestion I would make would be for better plane and runway management by LAS Tower to avoid multiple runway changes at a critical phase of flight.The suggestion I would make would be for the FBO at LAS to have wing walkers when there is crowded and cramped ramp space.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.