A B757-200 CREW ASKS ABOUT FLYING AT HIGH ALTS DURING AN FAA ISSUED SOLAR FLARE ALERT.
Synopsis
A B757-200 CREW ASKS ABOUT FLYING AT HIGH ALTS DURING AN FAA ISSUED SOLAR FLARE ALERT.
Narrative
ON FLT SAN-DEN ON SEP/XA/05. PRIOR TO DEP; I HAD NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR SOLAR FLARE HAPPENING AND THAT OUR 8 HR DUTY DAY WAS ALL WITHIN THE FAA'S ALERT AREA. TALKED WITH CAPT ABOUT SELECTION OF LOWER ALT; BUT HE INDICATED THAT OUR FOM CONTAINS NO DIRECTION TO DO SO; AND THE INCREASED FUEL WOULD NOT JUSTIFY THE MOVE. WHILE IN CRUISE AT FL390; I SENT MESSAGE TO DISPATCH REQUESTING SEVERE WX ADVISORIES. THEY RESPONDED WITH REPORT WHICH SHOWED R3; S3; G5 AND ALSO SENT A KEY WHICH INDICATED 'S3' INDICATED 'MODIFY FLT PLAN.' WE ASKED WHAT MODIFICATIONS SHOULD BE MADE. HE SAID THE OLD RULES CALLED FOR US TO FLY FL310 AND BELOW N OF 39 NORTH AND SAID MGMNT WAS BEING ASKED AND THAT HE'D LET US KNOW. WE HEARD NOTHING FURTHER. THE REST OF OUR DAY WAS SPENT ABOVE FL370 IN THE FAA'S WARNING AREA. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHY WE HAVE NO DOMESTIC POLICY ON SOLAR EVENTS S3 AND ABOVE WHEN THE FAA'S MAP CLEARLY SHOWS THAT OUR ENTIRE DAY WAS SPENT IN THE ALERT AREA. IF NO POLICY IS NEEDED; THEN WHY DOES THE FAA'S MAP DISPLAY HOW IT DOES?
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.