<< >> NASA ASRS Report 175584, April 1991

Air carrier large transport asks for clearance confirmation because ARTCC radar controller failed to use the full call sign.

Attributes
ACN	175584
Time
Date	199104
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lch
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	175584
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

At FL350, approximately 50N east of lake charles VOR on a center vector for thunderstorm avoidance, we heard a clearance for, 'abc, descend to FL310.' we were air carrier X flight abc. I replied, 'understand air carrier X abc descend to FL310.' there was a great deal of static on frequency and we heard no reply from controller. I called again to confirm descent clearance. This time controller responded, 'abc descend not to 310. I don't have time to discuss need for descent.' I replied I didn't want a discussion, just a confirmation that air carrier X abc was cleared to FL310. Apparently the controller's workload was so high he felt he did not have time for normal, safe, professional communications! Very unsafe practice.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT ASKS FOR CLRNC CONFIRMATION BECAUSE ARTCC RADAR CTLR FAILED TO USE THE FULL CALL SIGN.

Narrative: AT FL350, APPROX 50N E OF LAKE CHARLES VOR ON A CENTER VECTOR FOR TSTM AVOIDANCE, WE HEARD A CLRNC FOR, 'ABC, DSND TO FL310.' WE WERE ACR X FLT ABC. I REPLIED, 'UNDERSTAND ACR X ABC DSND TO FL310.' THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF STATIC ON FREQ AND WE HEARD NO REPLY FROM CTLR. I CALLED AGAIN TO CONFIRM DSNT CLRNC. THIS TIME CTLR RESPONDED, 'ABC DSND NOT TO 310. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DISCUSS NEED FOR DSNT.' I REPLIED I DIDN'T WANT A DISCUSSION, JUST A CONFIRMATION THAT ACR X ABC WAS CLRED TO FL310. APPARENTLY THE CTLR'S WORKLOAD WAS SO HIGH HE FELT HE DID NOT HAVE TIME FOR NORMAL, SAFE, PROFESSIONAL COMS! VERY UNSAFE PRACTICE.

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.