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Air carrier flight crew challenges controller's comment of assigned altitude. Controller advised to 'expect' altitude and had not cleared aircraft to lower altitude.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 443162 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199907 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : hec.vortac |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 23000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Weather Elements | Thunderstorm |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zla.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Route In Use | enroute : direct |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 4000 |
| ASRS Report | 443162 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
Narrative:
Flight from las to sna, checked on with ZLA, cleared to climb to FL230. Requested direct to hec VOR. Routing was approved by center. Requested deviation around a cumulo nimbus in our direct path to hec. Center advised us 'I might have to leave you down at FL220 for a while.' we acknowledged that we understand and we will expect that. After leveling at FL230, center asked 'noticed you leveled at FL230, aren't you cleared for FL220?' we responded, 'no, we were cleared to FL230 and was told we might have to stay at FL220 for a while, that is an expect -- not a clearance to maintain FL220.' ATC replied 'you are correct, please descend now to FL220.' 2 factors involved: 1) I should have asked for clarification instead of making assumptions. 2) standard phraseology by ATC should have been used.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ACR FLC CHALLENGES CTLR'S COMMENT OF ASSIGNED ALT. CTLR ADVISED TO 'EXPECT' ALT AND HAD NOT CLRED ACFT TO LOWER ALT.
Narrative: FLT FROM LAS TO SNA, CHKED ON WITH ZLA, CLRED TO CLB TO FL230. REQUESTED DIRECT TO HEC VOR. ROUTING WAS APPROVED BY CTR. REQUESTED DEV AROUND A CUMULO NIMBUS IN OUR DIRECT PATH TO HEC. CTR ADVISED US 'I MIGHT HAVE TO LEAVE YOU DOWN AT FL220 FOR A WHILE.' WE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND WE WILL EXPECT THAT. AFTER LEVELING AT FL230, CTR ASKED 'NOTICED YOU LEVELED AT FL230, AREN'T YOU CLRED FOR FL220?' WE RESPONDED, 'NO, WE WERE CLRED TO FL230 AND WAS TOLD WE MIGHT HAVE TO STAY AT FL220 FOR A WHILE, THAT IS AN EXPECT -- NOT A CLRNC TO MAINTAIN FL220.' ATC REPLIED 'YOU ARE CORRECT, PLEASE DSND NOW TO FL220.' 2 FACTORS INVOLVED: 1) I SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION INSTEAD OF MAKING ASSUMPTIONS. 2) STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY BY ATC SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED.
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.