<< >> NASA ASRS Report 353779, November 1996

Air carrier aircraft cleared ILS runway 35L maintain 180 KTS until the FAF, contact the tower at the FAF. Reporter contacted the tower 2 NM prior to the FAF and advised slowing to 140 KTS and tower local controller got upset with the air carrier flight crew for slowing prior to the fix. Captain reporter says local controller has bad attitude.

Attributes
ACN	353779
Time
Date	199611
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : den
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	353779
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Den approach was IFR runway 35L ILS. Den approach clearance was 'cleared ILS runway 35L, maintain 180 KTS to FAF, contact tower at FAF.' we contacted den tower approaching fix (approximately 2 mi before), advised at 180 KTS reducing to 140 KTS. Den tower 'you were told/cleared to maintain 180 KTS to FAF.' I replied, 'we are reducing to 140 KTS as per our company's SOP' to be configured and stabilized at the FAF. His attitude was not acceptable. We are responsible for the operation of the aircraft. Our procedures govern the operation -- not ATC. If we choose to reduce speed ATC must adjust. He displayed a condescending attitude to a safe operating procedure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ACFT CLRED ILS RWY 35L MAINTAIN 180 KTS UNTIL THE FAF, CONTACT THE TWR AT THE FAF. RPTR CONTACTED THE TWR 2 NM PRIOR TO THE FAF AND ADVISED SLOWING TO 140 KTS AND TWR LCL CTLR GOT UPSET WITH THE ACR FLC FOR SLOWING PRIOR TO THE FIX. CAPT RPTR SAYS LCL CTLR HAS BAD ATTITUDE.

Narrative: DEN APCH WAS IFR RWY 35L ILS. DEN APCH CLRNC WAS 'CLRED ILS RWY 35L, MAINTAIN 180 KTS TO FAF, CONTACT TWR AT FAF.' WE CONTACTED DEN TWR APCHING FIX (APPROX 2 MI BEFORE), ADVISED AT 180 KTS REDUCING TO 140 KTS. DEN TWR 'YOU WERE TOLD/CLRED TO MAINTAIN 180 KTS TO FAF.' I REPLIED, 'WE ARE REDUCING TO 140 KTS AS PER OUR COMPANY'S SOP' TO BE CONFIGURED AND STABILIZED AT THE FAF. HIS ATTITUDE WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OP OF THE ACFT. OUR PROCS GOVERN THE OP -- NOT ATC. IF WE CHOOSE TO REDUCE SPD ATC MUST ADJUST. HE DISPLAYED A CONDESCENDING ATTITUDE TO A SAFE OPERATING PROC.

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.