Narrative:

We were cleared as follows: 'descend 7000 ft profile descent.' this was unclr to us because the profile required an intermediate stop on the way to 7000 ft. I queried the controller to ask if he wanted us to fly the profile or descend to 7000 ft. The response was '7000 ft profile.' therefore, we started a descent to 7000 ft following the horizontal (course) profile. When we crossed the yyz 35 DME at approximately 10500 ft, the controller asked us why we weren't at 11000 ft per the profile. I responded that I understood our clearance as being descend to 7000 ft following the profile. He said no. In my opinion, this confusing situation could be avoided by the clearance being issued as simply 'fly profile descent,' omit the 7000 ft discussion. After speaking with other line pilots. I discovered this is a very common occurrence.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN ACR MDT JET OVERSHOT ASSIGNED INTERMEDIATE ALT DURING A PROFILE DSCNT DUE MISUNDERSTANDING OF CLRNC.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED AS FOLLOWS: 'DSND 7000 FT PROFILE DSCNT.' THIS WAS UNCLR TO US BECAUSE THE PROFILE REQUIRED AN INTERMEDIATE STOP ON THE WAY TO 7000 FT. I QUERIED THE CTLR TO ASK IF HE WANTED US TO FLY THE PROFILE OR DSND TO 7000 FT. THE RESPONSE WAS '7000 FT PROFILE.' THEREFORE, WE STARTED A DSCNT TO 7000 FT FOLLOWING THE HORIZ (COURSE) PROFILE. WHEN WE CROSSED THE YYZ 35 DME AT APPROX 10500 FT, THE CTLR ASKED US WHY WE WEREN'T AT 11000 FT PER THE PROFILE. I RESPONDED THAT I UNDERSTOOD OUR CLRNC AS BEING DSND TO 7000 FT FOLLOWING THE PROFILE. HE SAID NO. IN MY OPINION, THIS CONFUSING SIT COULD BE AVOIDED BY THE CLRNC BEING ISSUED AS SIMPLY 'FLY PROFILE DSCNT,' OMIT THE 7000 FT DISCUSSION. AFTER SPEAKING WITH OTHER LINE PLTS. I DISCOVERED THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE.

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.