<< >> NASA ASRS Report 180087, June 1991

Corp aircraft cleared to descend pilot discretion, then later told had one and one half minutes to reach altitude.

Attributes
ACN	180087
Time
Date	199106
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : spa
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 38000 msl bound upper : 41000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	187087
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

At FL410 ATC cleared us to FL350 with pilot's discretion to FL290. I started a descent. Passing through 39500', ATC requested we be at or below FL350 in 1:30. I initiated a steeper descent. After 30 seconds I informed ATC we could not make FL350 in the 1 min remaining. ATC then cleared us to climb to FL390. (In the descent we descended to approximately 38000'.) ATC gave us a left turn to 60 degrees. We repeated the clearance and informed ATC that we were level at FL390. ATC then cleared us on course. The conflicting traffic informed ATC that their TCAS had been activated. If we had been informed sooner of the need to be at FL350, this situation might have been avoided.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP ACFT CLEARED TO DESCEND PLT DISCRETION, THEN LATER TOLD HAD ONE AND ONE HALF MINUTES TO REACH ALT.

Narrative: AT FL410 ATC CLRED US TO FL350 WITH PLT'S DISCRETION TO FL290. I STARTED A DSNT. PASSING THROUGH 39500', ATC REQUESTED WE BE AT OR BELOW FL350 IN 1:30. I INITIATED A STEEPER DSNT. AFTER 30 SECS I INFORMED ATC WE COULD NOT MAKE FL350 IN THE 1 MIN REMAINING. ATC THEN CLRED US TO CLB TO FL390. (IN THE DSNT WE DSNDED TO APPROX 38000'.) ATC GAVE US A LEFT TURN TO 60 DEGS. WE REPEATED THE CLRNC AND INFORMED ATC THAT WE WERE LEVEL AT FL390. ATC THEN CLRED US ON COURSE. THE CONFLICTING TFC INFORMED ATC THAT THEIR TCAS HAD BEEN ACTIVATED. IF WE HAD BEEN INFORMED SOONER OF THE NEED TO BE AT FL350, THIS SITUATION MIGHT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

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.