A B757-200 Captain described how the Pegasus FMS upgrade has created distractions and increased the flight crew's workload while not delivering the functionality proposed to automate some navigation and dispatch capabilities.

Narrative

Through my 25 years here (almost 19 as a Captain) I am starting to see more and more safety issues. As opposed to less; which is what one should expect with our advancements in 'technology.' But today let's stick with one issue. PEGASUS! Specifically on the 757. Operationally; it's a piece of junk. The Company bought a bill of goods. On a normal 7 hour international flight one might expect to lose ACARS coverage once; maybe twice with a standard ACARS system. But on the same route one will lose ACARS coverage with Pegasus 6; 7; 8 or more times. Heck; I've seen 'DATALINK LOST' with Pegasus over the top of New York; Atlanta; Dallas or any other large urban area. (Hold that thought. It will play a part later in the story.) Through my entire career probably the 2 biggest safety issues have been distractions in the cockpit and 'heads down' operations. And what does Pegasus do? Create all types of distractions in the cockpit and require 3-5 times the amount of heads down operation. What exactly is the purpose of the 'DING' every time Pegasus sends something to the printer or FMS; usually done during taxing or some other critical time? So much for sterile cockpit! And how does it help us to require 3-4-5 times the number of keystrokes just to do something as simple as checking the weather? So much for traffic scan and situational awareness! Annoyances aside here are two quick specific Pegasus stories about my flights where safety was compromised over the last week. A week ago we were in a major U.S. city [with] CAT 2 and CAT 3 weather. SMGCS procedures were in operation. Taxing up to the red lights at the hold bar we hear 'DING' multiple times. We look up. What is it? An emergency in the cabin? No; it's just that stupid Pegasus sending us some totally irrelevant information and that 'DING' about blowing us out of our seats. Upon refocusing my attention on taxing the aircraft (what I thought was important) I realized that I almost taxied right pass the hold short lights. Thanks to Pegasus and that stupid 'DING' we almost had a real problem. This week the destination airport was in total meltdown due to weather. Throughout the flight we were dealing with the annoyances on Pegasus. But let's talk safety. We are re-routed due to the weather. The re-route eats all of our holding fuel. Dispatch now doesn't want us to use our listed alternates. The first alternate because of the weather and the second alternate because of all of the diverts there. There are now only two options. Dispatch is going to send us all of our information. But wait! Looking up at EICAS we see; 'DATALINK LOST.' We're less than 200 miles from our destination; in the proximity of 7-8 large US airports and ACARS will not work due to the inferiority of Pegasus. Now we're low on gas; bad weather; huge workload; trying to divert and unable to use ACARS and having to communicate with Dispatch on a congested radio frequency just to get something as simple as alternate weather! Once again; so much for situational awareness and flying the airplane! I can't understand why the Company and Flight Department thinks they're 'helping' us fly more safely by increasing our workload; creating more distractions and giving us inferior equipment. Maybe it has something to do with a Flight Department run by people more suited to be clerks somewhere as opposed to people with real pilot experience? But that's a whole other story. In closing; I know the Company isn't going to do anything about these problems; but I did want to put it on the record.