Narrative:

Aircraft had been vectored off the arrival and cleared from FL370 to FL290 (expedite through FL280). After leveling at FL270, aircraft was cleared 'direct coaxe, leese 6 arrival orlando.' as per the standard operating procedure, the captain pilot had reported off the radio to talk to our company on the ground. The vertical navigation equipment indicated we were 14 NM beyond the point we should have left FL270 to make the leese intersection at 250 KTS and 12000'. Informed the pilot we had been 'cleared for the arrival.' the pilot then confirmed with jax center that we were cleared for the leese 6 arrival. At that time, I was under the impression we were cleared to descend to make the restriction at 12000'. The arrival clearly states 'expect leese at 12000'/250 KTS.' the combination of being held high longer than expected and minor confusion in the cockpit, caused me to hear what I wanted to hear. As we passed through FL250, controller requested we stop at FL250 and asked our cleared altitude. When we explained, his comment was 'we need to change the wording on that.' after landing we called the supervisor at jax center. He stated we were 'about the 10TH or 12TH aircraft to start down early.' all aircraft involved were 'glass cockpit.' while the PF was clearly at fault, there is a trend of several identical excursions. Aircraft involved are of the same type. Suggestions: make all sids and arrs consistent. They should all be clrncs or they should all be suggestions of what to expect. 'Cleared for the arrival' can mean descend immediately to make a restriction, or don't leave your altitude just yet. It just depends on what airport you are at or what procedure you are flying.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR DESCENDS EARLY WHEN 'CLEARED DIRECT' ON A STAR.

Narrative: ACFT HAD BEEN VECTORED OFF THE ARR AND CLRED FROM FL370 TO FL290 (EXPEDITE THROUGH FL280). AFTER LEVELING AT FL270, ACFT WAS CLRED 'DIRECT COAXE, LEESE 6 ARR ORLANDO.' AS PER THE STANDARD OPERATING PROC, THE CAPT PLT HAD RPTED OFF THE RADIO TO TALK TO OUR COMPANY ON THE GND. THE VERTICAL NAV EQUIP INDICATED WE WERE 14 NM BEYOND THE POINT WE SHOULD HAVE L FL270 TO MAKE THE LEESE INTXN AT 250 KTS AND 12000'. INFORMED THE PLT WE HAD BEEN 'CLRED FOR THE ARR.' THE PLT THEN CONFIRMED WITH JAX CTR THAT WE WERE CLRED FOR THE LEESE 6 ARR. AT THAT TIME, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO MAKE THE RESTRICTION AT 12000'. THE ARR CLRLY STATES 'EXPECT LEESE AT 12000'/250 KTS.' THE COMBINATION OF BEING HELD HIGH LONGER THAN EXPECTED AND MINOR CONFUSION IN THE COCKPIT, CAUSED ME TO HEAR WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR. AS WE PASSED THROUGH FL250, CTLR REQUESTED WE STOP AT FL250 AND ASKED OUR CLRED ALT. WHEN WE EXPLAINED, HIS COMMENT WAS 'WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WORDING ON THAT.' AFTER LNDG WE CALLED THE SUPVR AT JAX CTR. HE STATED WE WERE 'ABOUT THE 10TH OR 12TH ACFT TO START DOWN EARLY.' ALL ACFT INVOLVED WERE 'GLASS COCKPIT.' WHILE THE PF WAS CLRLY AT FAULT, THERE IS A TREND OF SEVERAL IDENTICAL EXCURSIONS. ACFT INVOLVED ARE OF THE SAME TYPE. SUGGESTIONS: MAKE ALL SIDS AND ARRS CONSISTENT. THEY SHOULD ALL BE CLRNCS OR THEY SHOULD ALL BE SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT TO EXPECT. 'CLRED FOR THE ARR' CAN MEAN DSND IMMEDIATELY TO MAKE A RESTRICTION, OR DON'T LEAVE YOUR ALT JUST YET. IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT ARPT YOU ARE AT OR WHAT PROC YOU ARE FLYING.

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.