Narrative:

During intermediate level off at 10000' MSL from plano intersection direct to ord VOR. At position usually expect descent and turn for runway 9R. Controller was issuing instructions nonstop west/O waiting for responses. Another aircraft tried to check on to frequency while controller was trying to issue instructions making both unreadable. Another aircraft radio covered controller. Controller continued issuing instructions assuming everyone heard. Controller came back and said, 'air carrier X, slow to 210 KTS,' and captain responded. Then controller, in angry voice and tone said, 'air carrier X, you were told to turn and descend 10 mi back.' captain responded that we had neither heard or answered those instructions. Controller angrily gave instructions to slow turn and descend, then intercept localizer. Another controller came on and amended instructions. Rest of approach and landing uneventful and normal. Ord approach is very busy, but they need to stop long enough for responses and check-INS and not talk nonstop. We couldn't even get a word in edgewise to ask. I realize it is basically a congestion problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR PLT COMPLAINS ABOUT FREQ CONGESTION AND FAST TALKING CTLR.

Narrative: DURING INTERMEDIATE LEVEL OFF AT 10000' MSL FROM PLANO INTXN DIRECT TO ORD VOR. AT POS USUALLY EXPECT DSCNT AND TURN FOR RWY 9R. CTLR WAS ISSUING INSTRUCTIONS NONSTOP W/O WAITING FOR RESPONSES. ANOTHER ACFT TRIED TO CHK ON TO FREQ WHILE CTLR WAS TRYING TO ISSUE INSTRUCTIONS MAKING BOTH UNREADABLE. ANOTHER ACFT RADIO COVERED CTLR. CTLR CONTINUED ISSUING INSTRUCTIONS ASSUMING EVERYONE HEARD. CTLR CAME BACK AND SAID, 'ACR X, SLOW TO 210 KTS,' AND CAPT RESPONDED. THEN CTLR, IN ANGRY VOICE AND TONE SAID, 'ACR X, YOU WERE TOLD TO TURN AND DSND 10 MI BACK.' CAPT RESPONDED THAT WE HAD NEITHER HEARD OR ANSWERED THOSE INSTRUCTIONS. CTLR ANGRILY GAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO SLOW TURN AND DSND, THEN INTERCEPT LOC. ANOTHER CTLR CAME ON AND AMENDED INSTRUCTIONS. REST OF APCH AND LNDG UNEVENTFUL AND NORMAL. ORD APCH IS VERY BUSY, BUT THEY NEED TO STOP LONG ENOUGH FOR RESPONSES AND CHK-INS AND NOT TALK NONSTOP. WE COULDN'T EVEN GET A WORD IN EDGEWISE TO ASK. I REALIZE IT IS BASICALLY A CONGESTION PROB.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.