Flight crew complains about ATC handling during descent.

Attributes
ACN	179936
Time
Date	199105
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lan
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18700 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2700 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	179936
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	179742
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3600 vertical : 1500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were cruising from msp-dtw working with ZOB. There were thunderstorms all over the area. We were cleared to FL240 after repeated requests. We seemed to be leading the rush into dtw. Finally very close to polar we were asked if we could cross polar at 12000'. We responded affirmative and received clearance to descend to 12000'. We made it very clear that it would require an expedited descent. We left FL240 and at approximately 18700' we were given, 'maintain FL240.' we responded we would climb to FL240 and commenced a climb. After a very short time another controller gave us maintain FL190, turn left immediately. We were in conflict with traffic. We visually saw the traffic after established in the turn. Since we were VMC at the time, there was no real danger, but in IMC it could have been a frightening experience. Also far approximately 5 mins all occupants of the aft were subjected to a roller coaster ride at ATC's command. ZOB really dropped the ball on this one. It appears as if there was never any handoff to dtw and we were forgotten about in all the WX deviations. ZOB needs to be upgraded to ensure this does not happen again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW COMPLAINS ABOUT ATC HANDLING DURING DESCENT.

Narrative: WE WERE CRUISING FROM MSP-DTW WORKING WITH ZOB. THERE WERE TSTMS ALL OVER THE AREA. WE WERE CLRED TO FL240 AFTER REPEATED REQUESTS. WE SEEMED TO BE LEADING THE RUSH INTO DTW. FINALLY VERY CLOSE TO POLAR WE WERE ASKED IF WE COULD CROSS POLAR AT 12000'. WE RESPONDED AFFIRMATIVE AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO DSND TO 12000'. WE MADE IT VERY CLR THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE AN EXPEDITED DSNT. WE LEFT FL240 AND AT APPROX 18700' WE WERE GIVEN, 'MAINTAIN FL240.' WE RESPONDED WE WOULD CLB TO FL240 AND COMMENCED A CLB. AFTER A VERY SHORT TIME ANOTHER CTLR GAVE US MAINTAIN FL190, TURN LEFT IMMEDIATELY. WE WERE IN CONFLICT WITH TFC. WE VISUALLY SAW THE TFC AFTER ESTABLISHED IN THE TURN. SINCE WE WERE VMC AT THE TIME, THERE WAS NO REAL DANGER, BUT IN IMC IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. ALSO FAR APPROX 5 MINS ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE AFT WERE SUBJECTED TO A ROLLER COASTER RIDE AT ATC'S COMMAND. ZOB REALLY DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. IT APPEARS AS IF THERE WAS NEVER ANY HDOF TO DTW AND WE WERE FORGOTTEN ABOUT IN ALL THE WX DEVIATIONS. ZOB NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED TO ENSURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

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.