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With a pilot's discretion clearance to a lower altitude because of turbulence in the area an air carrier crew is questioned by the controller about the descent.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 547792 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200205 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : jax.airport |
| State Reference | FL |
| Altitude | msl single value : 37000 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zjx.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| ASRS Report | 547792 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : turbulence non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
Narrative:
While en route at FL370, talking to ZJX, the ride began to get bumpy. We asked ZJX about ride reports and they cleared us pilot's discretion to FL240. We reported that we were going to descend at that time to FL240. Passing approximately FL355, ZJX asked us what altitude we were at and we responded with 'passing FL355 for FL240.' after a long pause, the controller asked us if we were cleared to that altitude. We stated 'yes we were, pilot's discretion to FL240.' he then replied, 'roger, amend altitude to FL250' which we then complied with. There seemed to be some confusion on his part on previously clearing us pilot's discretion to FL240, which we both heard, understood and repeated back.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: WITH A PLT'S DISCRETION CLRNC TO A LOWER ALT BECAUSE OF TURB IN THE AREA AN ACR CREW IS QUESTIONED BY THE CTLR ABOUT THE DSCNT.
Narrative: WHILE ENRTE AT FL370, TALKING TO ZJX, THE RIDE BEGAN TO GET BUMPY. WE ASKED ZJX ABOUT RIDE RPTS AND THEY CLRED US PLT'S DISCRETION TO FL240. WE RPTED THAT WE WERE GOING TO DSND AT THAT TIME TO FL240. PASSING APPROX FL355, ZJX ASKED US WHAT ALT WE WERE AT AND WE RESPONDED WITH 'PASSING FL355 FOR FL240.' AFTER A LONG PAUSE, THE CTLR ASKED US IF WE WERE CLRED TO THAT ALT. WE STATED 'YES WE WERE, PLT'S DISCRETION TO FL240.' HE THEN REPLIED, 'ROGER, AMEND ALT TO FL250' WHICH WE THEN COMPLIED WITH. THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME CONFUSION ON HIS PART ON PREVIOUSLY CLRING US PLT'S DISCRETION TO FL240, WHICH WE BOTH HEARD, UNDERSTOOD AND REPEATED BACK.
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.