Narrative:

ZMA cleared us to FL260. Then asked if we could make FL240 in 1 min. I responded affirmative. We started down but center was busy and I wasn't sure if he was asking us if we could make the restr or were we actually cleared down. At that time TCASII gives TA for climbing aircraft. I told first officer, who was flying, to level off. I asked center to repeat clearance. He said we were cleared to FL240 but turn to avoid traffic. We never got an RA and I had traffic in sight. Not sure if we busted ATC separation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 ACFT GIVEN DSCNT CLRNC TO FL260. ATC ASKED IF FLC COULD MAKE FL240 IN 1 MIN AND RPTR CAPT REPLIED AFFIRMATIVE AND FLC CONTINUED DSCNT UNTIL TCASII WARNED OF TFC. FLC LEVELED ACFT AND TRIED TO CONTACT CTR WHICH WAS BLOCKED DUE TO FREQ CONGESTION. WHEN ABLE TO CONTACT CTR THEY AFFIRMED THE ALT ASSIGNMENT OF FL240.

Narrative: ZMA CLRED US TO FL260. THEN ASKED IF WE COULD MAKE FL240 IN 1 MIN. I RESPONDED AFFIRMATIVE. WE STARTED DOWN BUT CTR WAS BUSY AND I WASN'T SURE IF HE WAS ASKING US IF WE COULD MAKE THE RESTR OR WERE WE ACTUALLY CLRED DOWN. AT THAT TIME TCASII GIVES TA FOR CLBING ACFT. I TOLD FO, WHO WAS FLYING, TO LEVEL OFF. I ASKED CTR TO REPEAT CLRNC. HE SAID WE WERE CLRED TO FL240 BUT TURN TO AVOID TFC. WE NEVER GOT AN RA AND I HAD TFC IN SIGHT. NOT SURE IF WE BUSTED ATC SEPARATION.

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.