Flight Operations Safety Bulletin

Date May 10, 2000

Recently, as the result of an equipment change, we had one of our turboprop aircraft accept a clearance for an EMB-145. The flight was operated under a flight number normally used for the jet. The flight plan should have been changed to reflect the new equipment type. We are still trying to determine why this did not happen.

Luckily, the Ground Controller saw the turboprop taxi out and changed the equipment type. Since ATC thought the flight was a jet, they would have given the flight a departure heading with other jet aircraft and the subsequent departure could have compromised separation.

At St Louis turboprop departures are always given 3000 feet as an initial altitude by Clearance Delivery. Jets are given 5000 feet by Clearance Delivery. If the initial altitude that you are given by Clearance Delivery does not match this, i.e. jets 5000 feet and props 3000 feet, please confirm your type aircraft with Clearance Delivery.