Narrative:

Shortly after passing sat VOR (gland 2 arrival, sat transition, to kiah) given change to ZHU 124.72. Checked in with altitude 'FL370 point 82' as .82 mach had been assigned previously. Controller 'stumbled' through the call sign, then turned us to a 120 degrees heading. I acknowledged. After established on a 120 degrees heading for a short time controller again 'stumbled' on our call sign and assigned us a 'heading 120 degrees' for a second time. Both myself and the first officer commented on the controller having a tough time. Shortly later, the ZHU controller cleared us to 'maintain 270' or so it sounded. My first officer questioned the altitude so I called to confirm 'cleared to descend and maintain FL270.' again told by houston 'maintain 270' but since there was no 'descend' nor 'affirmative' we were unsure of the altitude as we were at FL370 and could have misheard. The third time the controller was very sarcastic in clearing us to FL270. Later when I misstated a clearance to FL230, and before I corrected it to FL240 the controller made additional comments that '...we were not going to make it.' I replied that if he would use proper terminology it would help. Next frequency was 128.6 and that ZHU controller was so busy he stated to the effect 'no one talk but me.' basically the 2 ZHU controllers were too busy 'controling' to use proper terminology/procedures to safely and effectively control traffic. If these controllers do not have the time to actually control traffic the situation becomes unsafe.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NON STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY BY BUSY ZHU ARTCC RADAR CTLRS RESULTS IN CONFUSING COMS.

Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER PASSING SAT VOR (GLAND 2 ARR, SAT TRANSITION, TO KIAH) GIVEN CHANGE TO ZHU 124.72. CHKED IN WITH ALT 'FL370 POINT 82' AS .82 MACH HAD BEEN ASSIGNED PREVIOUSLY. CTLR 'STUMBLED' THROUGH THE CALL SIGN, THEN TURNED US TO A 120 DEGS HDG. I ACKNOWLEDGED. AFTER ESTABLISHED ON A 120 DEGS HDG FOR A SHORT TIME CONTROLLER AGAIN 'STUMBLED' ON OUR CALL SIGN AND ASSIGNED US A 'HDG 120 DEGS' FOR A SECOND TIME. BOTH MYSELF AND THE FO COMMENTED ON THE CTLR HAVING A TOUGH TIME. SHORTLY LATER, THE ZHU CTLR CLRED US TO 'MAINTAIN 270' OR SO IT SOUNDED. MY FO QUESTIONED THE ALT SO I CALLED TO CONFIRM 'CLRED TO DSND AND MAINTAIN FL270.' AGAIN TOLD BY HOUSTON 'MAINTAIN 270' BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO 'DSND' NOR 'AFFIRMATIVE' WE WERE UNSURE OF THE ALTITUDE AS WE WERE AT FL370 AND COULD HAVE MISHEARD. THE THIRD TIME THE CTLR WAS VERY SARCASTIC IN CLRING US TO FL270. LATER WHEN I MISSTATED A CLRNC TO FL230, AND BEFORE I CORRECTED IT TO FL240 THE CTLR MADE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THAT '...WE WERE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT.' I REPLIED THAT IF HE WOULD USE PROPER TERMINOLOGY IT WOULD HELP. NEXT FREQ WAS 128.6 AND THAT ZHU CTLR WAS SO BUSY HE STATED TO THE EFFECT 'NO ONE TALK BUT ME.' BASICALLY THE 2 ZHU CTLRS WERE TOO BUSY 'CTLING' TO USE PROPER TERMINOLOGY/PROCS TO SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY CTL TFC. IF THESE CTLRS DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO ACTUALLY CTL TFC THE SIT BECOMES UNSAFE.

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.