Widebody transport flight crew has confusion regarding clearance, descends too soon, told to 'expect' the FMS bridge visual approach and thought cleared for it.

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Attributes
ACN	325550
Time
Date	199601
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10500 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak tower : bna
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival 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 : 150 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	325550
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I understood we were cleared for the FMS bridge visual. This meant we were cleared to descend from 11000 ft to cedes down to 7000 ft. I descended out of 11000 ft and when first officer asked bay approach they said we were not cleared but were to expect the FMS bridge visual. I truly think we were 'cleared' for the FMS bridge visual prior to cedes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB FLC HAS CONFUSION REGARDING CLRNC, DSNDS TOO SOON, TOLD TO 'EXPECT' THE FMS BRIDGE VISUAL APCH AND THOUGHT CLRED FOR IT.

Narrative: I UNDERSTOOD WE WERE CLRED FOR THE FMS BRIDGE VISUAL. THIS MEANT WE WERE CLRED TO DSND FROM 11000 FT TO CEDES DOWN TO 7000 FT. I DSNDED OUT OF 11000 FT AND WHEN FO ASKED BAY APCH THEY SAID WE WERE NOT CLRED BUT WERE TO EXPECT THE FMS BRIDGE VISUAL. I TRULY THINK WE WERE 'CLRED' FOR THE FMS BRIDGE VISUAL PRIOR TO CEDES.

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.