 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
While descending into abq on the LOWBO3 arrival; there was a miscommunication between ATC and the flight crew about altitude cleared to.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1338703 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201603 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ABQ.Airport |
| State Reference | NM |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Medium Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | STAR LOWBO 3 |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 124 Flight Crew Type 10800 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying First Officer |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 136 Flight Crew Type 2000 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance |
Narrative:
Just prior to commencing the lowbo 3 RNAV arrival; we received a clearance to descend to FL290. Prior to brmly (the start of the arrival) we received clearance; 'after brmly cleared direct joklo; cross joklo at 15;000 ft.' just prior to brmly we were given direct to joklo. While proceeding to joklo; ATC said something like; 'for now you can descend at pilots discretion to FL280.' both the first officer and I interpreted this to mean; if we desired we could descend to FL280 but that the original crossing restriction of 15;000 ft at joklo was still applicable. This also made sense because brmly had a published crossing restriction of FL290. We simply thought that ATC was telling us we could descend out of FL290 since we were direct joklo. ATC never used any terminology as to 'amending' our clearance or pilot discretion 'maintain' FL280. Nor was our original crossing restriction at joklo at 15;000 ft cancelled. Passing FL265; ATC queried us if that was our correct altitude; because he had 'amended' our clearance to FL280. The first officer replied that we interpreted his clearance as originally given to cross joklo at 15;000. What complicated matters was that ATC actually wanted us to stop at FL280; due to traffic at our 11 o'clock and below us. This was only passed to us after we had commenced our descent. We sighted the traffic and it was no factor visually or on the TCAS. ATC said nothing else and passed us on to the next controller without any comment.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: While descending into ABQ on the LOWBO3 Arrival; there was a miscommunication between ATC and the flight crew about altitude cleared to.
Narrative: Just prior to commencing the LOWBO 3 RNAV Arrival; we received a clearance to descend to FL290. Prior to BRMLY (the start of the arrival) we received clearance; 'After BRMLY cleared direct JOKLO; cross JOKLO at 15;000 ft.' Just prior to BRMLY we were given direct to JOKLO. While proceeding to JOKLO; ATC said something like; 'for now you can descend at Pilots Discretion to FL280.' Both the F/O and I interpreted this to mean; if we desired we could descend to FL280 but that the original crossing restriction of 15;000 ft at JOKLO was still applicable. This also made sense because BRMLY had a published crossing restriction of FL290. We simply thought that ATC was telling us we could descend out of FL290 since we were direct JOKLO. ATC never used any terminology as to 'amending' our clearance or Pilot Discretion 'maintain' FL280. Nor was our original crossing restriction at JOKLO at 15;000 ft cancelled. Passing FL265; ATC queried us if that was our correct altitude; because he had 'amended' our clearance to FL280. The FO replied that we interpreted his clearance as originally given to cross JOKLO at 15;000. What complicated matters was that ATC actually wanted us to stop at FL280; due to traffic at our 11 o'clock and below us. This was only passed to us after we had commenced our descent. We sighted the traffic and it was no factor visually or on the TCAS. ATC said nothing else and passed us on to the next Controller without any comment.
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.