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B727 acknowledges company's descent clearance, challenged by ZAB when wrong aircraft is observed in descent.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 507470 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200104 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zab.artcc |
| State Reference | NM |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 34600 msl bound upper : 35000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level cruise : enroute altitude change |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 500 |
| ASRS Report | 507470 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
En route from okc-phx on the fossl 6 STAR at FL350, we were cleared by ZAB to descend and maintain FL310. I responded with 'leaving FL350 for FL310.' as we were descending through FL346, ZAB advised us to maintain FL350. I responded with 'air carrier xxa returning back to FL350.' approximately 3 mins later, I heard ZAB clear another company aircraft (air carrier xxab) to descend and maintain FL310. This other aircraft was about 30-40 mi in front of us and was also going into phx. Shortly after aircraft X was cleared to FL310, ZAB called us back and stated 'aircraft X, now we'll start you down to FL310, descend and maintain FL310.' I think ZAB may have mis-spoken as to who they wanted to descend to FL310. In the future, when another aircraft with a similar call sign or another company aircraft is in close proximity, I will emphasize or confirm the clearance with ATC.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B727 ACKNOWLEDGES COMPANY'S DSCNT CLRNC, CHALLENGED BY ZAB WHEN WRONG ACFT IS OBSERVED IN DSCNT.
Narrative: ENRTE FROM OKC-PHX ON THE FOSSL 6 STAR AT FL350, WE WERE CLRED BY ZAB TO DSND AND MAINTAIN FL310. I RESPONDED WITH 'LEAVING FL350 FOR FL310.' AS WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH FL346, ZAB ADVISED US TO MAINTAIN FL350. I RESPONDED WITH 'ACR XXA RETURNING BACK TO FL350.' APPROX 3 MINS LATER, I HEARD ZAB CLR ANOTHER COMPANY ACFT (ACR XXAB) TO DSND AND MAINTAIN FL310. THIS OTHER ACFT WAS ABOUT 30-40 MI IN FRONT OF US AND WAS ALSO GOING INTO PHX. SHORTLY AFTER ACFT X WAS CLRED TO FL310, ZAB CALLED US BACK AND STATED 'ACFT X, NOW WE'LL START YOU DOWN TO FL310, DSND AND MAINTAIN FL310.' I THINK ZAB MAY HAVE MIS-SPOKEN AS TO WHO THEY WANTED TO DSND TO FL310. IN THE FUTURE, WHEN ANOTHER ACFT WITH A SIMILAR CALL SIGN OR ANOTHER COMPANY ACFT IS IN CLOSE PROX, I WILL EMPHASIZE OR CONFIRM THE CLRNC WITH ATC.
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.