Date: 201203
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZZZZ.Airport, FO
Light: Night
Aircraft: MD-11
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Cargo / Freight / Delivery
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Other Documentation
Component problem: Design
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Second reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Dispatch
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Procedure; Manuals; Company Policy
Primary problem: Company Policy

Narrative: Flight was dispatched and departed without a suitable alternate. Arrived at departure Ramp and a release was unavailable. Departure paperwork was available; scheduled departure time in an hour and fifteen minutes. At the airport there are only approximately 9 computer terminals available to review flight papers with multiple flights departing I was unable to get on a computer. Captain viewed paperwork and printed paperwork at approximately thirty-five minutes before departure. I reviewed paperwork concentrating on fuel and weather at departure field; destination and alternate. I also looked at departure NOTAMS before walking to the aircraft. I DID NOT REVIEW DESTINATION OR ALTERNATE NOTAMS. Captain asked both First Officers if we were comfortable with the fuel and if we had any questions. There were a total of 37 pages of NOTAMS; 4 pages for the Departure field; 18 pages for the destination and 15 pages for the alternate. Preflight; start; taxi; departure and enroute were all normal. At cruise I reviewed all destination NOTAMS; destination forecast and current weather. We continued to query Dispatch for updated destination weather via ACARS enroute. I had the last rest period; when returning to the Cockpit approximately 30 minutes prior to top of descent the Captain informed me that Dispatch had changed our alternate because it was NOTAMed closed. The current NOTAM system is UNSAT. It encourages pilots to speed read the NOTAMS while trying to decipher which NOTAMS are current; applicable and relevant to the flight. To read research and completely understand every NOTAM in 37 pages of NOTAMS would take several hours to do. If the only runway at a field is closed the NOTAM should NOT read that the runway is closed it SHOULD read that the field is closed. The Captain saw the runway closure NOTAM before departure but having never been to the alternate airport did not realize that was the only runway. In my opinion the NOTAM system is one of the highest threats to aviation safety. Provide the flight paperwork with sufficient time prior to departure for crews to review all information. If the paperwork is late pilot still need to do review it thoroughly even if it means a late departure.


Second narrative: Arrived at Operations; no dispatch release (checked for release online at the hotel also). Actually; everyone there was waiting for their release. Finally arrived 1 hour before scheduled push; we checked the weather; fuel and NOTAMs; our alternate a not far distant airport from the destination. NOTAMs (page 27 of 42 pages of WEATHER / NOTAMs) included Runway 09/27 closed. No one in my crew had been to that airport; so we had no idea that it only has one runway. Approximately 4 hours into the flight; we received an ACARS from Dispatch changing our Alternate. We were curious and began by re-reviewing the NOTAMs and now checking the AGC page of our EFB. It was at that point that we realized that Dispatch released us with an alternate that was closed. I never would have thought that Dispatch would release us using an Although the NOTAM was a bit cryptic; Dispatch should have been more aware of these airports they are using as alternates (especially since it is an airport we have scheduled service into). Dispatch needs to step up to the plate and give us reliable information in a timely manner. If a single runway airport has a closed runway; then the airport is closed; and should be annotated as such in the NOTAMs. Have Flight Releases ready for review more than the bare minimum time allowed; especially when there are 42 pages of weather and NOTAMs.


Synopsis: A crew became airborne on an international flight and realized that their alternate had only one runway which was closed. Error was due partly to the fact that there were 37 pages of NOTAMS for the entire flight.