Narrative:

We were coming into iad on the coatt four arrival. Barin intersection is the final point depicted on that arrival. At approximately 10-15 mi from barin the radio frequency became very busy and we were unable to break in to query ATC what they wanted us to fly after barin. At approximately 5-6 mi from barin, we were at our assigned altitude of 8000 ft, ATC issued us a clearance to fly the barin transition. We were not given a new altitude. We were not given a crossing restr and we were not told to descend via the transition. Note: the barin FMS transition distinctly states 'FMS arrs shall maintain last ATC assigned altitude until cleared to 'descend via' the transition.' having experienced flying into dulles, we thought that it was strange that ATC did not issue a new altitude or crossing restr. We immediately queried ATC. ATC said that they wanted us at 5000 ft at barin. Due to our close proximity to barin intersection I told ATC that we would be unable. ATC told us to hurry down. We complied.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCHING BARIN INTXN ON THE COATT FOUR ARR, THE EXPECTED NEW ALT ASSIGNMENT IS NOT RECEIVED. THE FREQ IS CONGESTED AND ONCE CONTACT AND QUERY TO ATC IS DONE THE NOW REQUESTED ALT CANNOT BE MADE. ATC IS ADVISED 'UNABLE' AND THEY REQUESTED THE FLT 'HURRY DOWN.'

Narrative: WE WERE COMING INTO IAD ON THE COATT FOUR ARR. BARIN INTXN IS THE FINAL POINT DEPICTED ON THAT ARR. AT APPROX 10-15 MI FROM BARIN THE RADIO FREQ BECAME VERY BUSY AND WE WERE UNABLE TO BREAK IN TO QUERY ATC WHAT THEY WANTED US TO FLY AFTER BARIN. AT APPROX 5-6 MI FROM BARIN, WE WERE AT OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 8000 FT, ATC ISSUED US A CLRNC TO FLY THE BARIN TRANSITION. WE WERE NOT GIVEN A NEW ALT. WE WERE NOT GIVEN A XING RESTR AND WE WERE NOT TOLD TO DSND VIA THE TRANSITION. NOTE: THE BARIN FMS TRANSITION DISTINCTLY STATES 'FMS ARRS SHALL MAINTAIN LAST ATC ASSIGNED ALT UNTIL CLRED TO 'DSND VIA' THE TRANSITION.' HAVING EXPERIENCED FLYING INTO DULLES, WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS STRANGE THAT ATC DID NOT ISSUE A NEW ALT OR XING RESTR. WE IMMEDIATELY QUERIED ATC. ATC SAID THAT THEY WANTED US AT 5000 FT AT BARIN. DUE TO OUR CLOSE PROX TO BARIN INTXN I TOLD ATC THAT WE WOULD BE UNABLE. ATC TOLD US TO HURRY DOWN. WE COMPLIED.

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.