Airline crew does not descend in a timely manner and is questioned by ZTL.

Attributes
ACN	463060
Time
Date	200002
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ztl.artcc
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
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 : 20000
ASRS Report	463060
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We were given FL350 and then subsequently FL330. We were programming other altitudes in the FMS when center gave us a descent from FL350 to FL330. Because of the additional programming we were slow to depart FL350 for FL330. Center asked if we had descended. We had caught our delay and were out of FL350, as center asked our status. Operations normal after that.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIRLINE CREW DOES NOT DSND IN A TIMELY MANNER AND IS QUESTIONED BY ZTL.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN FL350 AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY FL330. WE WERE PROGRAMMING OTHER ALTS IN THE FMS WHEN CTR GAVE US A DSCNT FROM FL350 TO FL330. BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING WE WERE SLOW TO DEPART FL350 FOR FL330. CTR ASKED IF WE HAD DSNDED. WE HAD CAUGHT OUR DELAY AND WERE OUT OF FL350, AS CTR ASKED OUR STATUS. OPS NORMAL AFTER THAT.

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.