Air carrier flight crew reports being cleared to descend via the BRDJE1 RNAV arrival except maintain...

Narrative:

Just before beginning the BRDJE1 arrival ATC gave us descend to FL260; pilot's discretion; no mention of descend via. A few minutes into this descent a new controller gave us 'descend via the BRDJE1; except maintain 15;000.' we set in 15;000; and verified it as 'set and armed.' I looked and saw a 15;000 limit on another waypoint further into the arrival; and somehow justified the 15;000 in my mind. Passing thru FL230 controller had us stop descent; then told us we were to have levelled at FL260 per the arrival; but to now maintain FL230 and comply with rest of arrival except maintain 310 kts. We did so without further incident. Controller was very tactful regarding our error; and thank him for that. I think that transitioning from a cruise altitude to a pilot's discretion clearance to FL260 without mention of a descend via; might have lulled us into getting the next descent to 15;000 with a descend via; however it was plain and simple an error that either one of us pilots should not have committed. I think we pilots both got a little dyslexic thinking that we were to descend now to 15;000; then comply with rest of STAR; instead of meet all higher altitude constraints on STAR; except do not descend below 15;000. I would prefer to hear 'descend via STAR; except do not descend below 15;000.' however; in the future I will do as I usually do and query the controller if unsure about his/her expectations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier flight crew reports being cleared to descend via the BRDJE1 RNAV arrival except maintain 15;000 feet. The crew attempts to descend directly to 15;000 feet and is admonished by ATC.

Narrative: Just before beginning the BRDJE1 arrival ATC gave us descend to FL260; pilot's discretion; no mention of descend via. A few minutes into this descent a new controller gave us 'descend via the BRDJE1; except maintain 15;000.' We set in 15;000; and verified it as 'set and armed.' I looked and saw a 15;000 limit on another waypoint further into the arrival; and somehow justified the 15;000 in my mind. Passing thru FL230 controller had us stop descent; then told us we were to have levelled at FL260 per the arrival; but to now maintain FL230 and comply with rest of arrival except maintain 310 kts. We did so without further incident. Controller was very tactful regarding our error; and thank him for that. I think that transitioning from a cruise altitude to a pilot's discretion clearance to FL260 without mention of a descend via; might have lulled us into getting the next descent to 15;000 with a descend via; however it was plain and simple an error that either one of us pilots should not have committed. I think we pilots both got a little dyslexic thinking that we were to descend now to 15;000; THEN comply with rest of STAR; instead of meet all higher altitude constraints on STAR; EXCEPT do not descend below 15;000. I would prefer to hear 'descend via STAR; except do not descend below 15;000.' However; in the future I will do as I usually do and query the controller if unsure about his/her expectations.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1218430
Time
Date	201411
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZFW.ARTCC
State Reference	TX
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR BRDJE1
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Air carrier flight crew reports being cleared to descend via the BRDJE1 RNAV arrival except maintain 15;000 feet. The crew attempts to descend directly to 15;000 feet and is admonished by ATC.