During arrival, step down approach and vectors requiring airspeed changes. In rapid descent given le...

Attributes
ACN	110716
Time
Date	198904
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iah
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14500 msl bound upper : 15000
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zhu
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 230
ASRS Report	110716
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During arrival into iah under ZHU control, numerous vectors assigned, step down through several altitudes and airspeed changes. At about 47 DME during vector southeast, descending through FL180, controller turned us to intercept the iah 305 degree right inbound and cross hoagi (35 DME) at 10000'. We turned and reconfigured. Rate of descent in excess of 6000 FPM (ivsi pegged). At about 45 DME and 15600' descending very rapidly, another voice (different controller, same frequency) said to level at 15000'. We were unable to comply because of rod. Stated same to controller and then were told to level at 14000' and vectored west. Complied. Eventually vectored back to 305 degree right inbound to iah on cugar 4. Told to call ZHU when on iah ground control. Did so, expecting apology for handling. Instead was cautioned about descent rate into iah. Explained that with numerous vectors, step down altitudes and speed changes, a smooth fuel efficient descent plan was not possible. Supervisor not sympathetic. Later, management pilot called and said center wanted 'pertinent facts,' (fishing expedition?) and that the controller said we were unable to cross 35 DME from iah at 10000' west/O being vectored. This is not correct. Angry and disappointed with system.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING ARR, STEP DOWN APCH AND VECTORS REQUIRING AIRSPEED CHANGES. IN RAPID DESCENT GIVEN LEVEL OFF. UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH SUDDEN ALT CHANGE. TOLD CTLR, THEN ON GND TOLD TO CALL CENTER.

Narrative: DURING ARR INTO IAH UNDER ZHU CTL, NUMEROUS VECTORS ASSIGNED, STEP DOWN THROUGH SEVERAL ALTS AND AIRSPD CHANGES. AT ABOUT 47 DME DURING VECTOR SE, DSNDING THROUGH FL180, CTLR TURNED US TO INTERCEPT THE IAH 305 DEG R INBND AND CROSS HOAGI (35 DME) AT 10000'. WE TURNED AND RECONFIGURED. RATE OF DSCNT IN EXCESS OF 6000 FPM (IVSI PEGGED). AT ABOUT 45 DME AND 15600' DSNDING VERY RAPIDLY, ANOTHER VOICE (DIFFERENT CTLR, SAME FREQ) SAID TO LEVEL AT 15000'. WE WERE UNABLE TO COMPLY BECAUSE OF ROD. STATED SAME TO CTLR AND THEN WERE TOLD TO LEVEL AT 14000' AND VECTORED W. COMPLIED. EVENTUALLY VECTORED BACK TO 305 DEG R INBND TO IAH ON CUGAR 4. TOLD TO CALL ZHU WHEN ON IAH GND CTL. DID SO, EXPECTING APOLOGY FOR HANDLING. INSTEAD WAS CAUTIONED ABOUT DSCNT RATE INTO IAH. EXPLAINED THAT WITH NUMEROUS VECTORS, STEP DOWN ALTS AND SPD CHANGES, A SMOOTH FUEL EFFICIENT DSCNT PLAN WAS NOT POSSIBLE. SUPVR NOT SYMPATHETIC. LATER, MGMNT PLT CALLED AND SAID CENTER WANTED 'PERTINENT FACTS,' (FISHING EXPEDITION?) AND THAT THE CTLR SAID WE WERE UNABLE TO CROSS 35 DME FROM IAH AT 10000' W/O BEING VECTORED. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED WITH SYS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

During arrival, step down approach and vectors requiring airspeed changes. In rapid descent given level off. Unable to comply with sudden altitude change. Told controller, then on ground told to call center.