Narrative:

As abcd, we 'rogered' a clearance to change frequencys from ZLA. There was another company abed on frequency. We changed frequencys and were given a clearance to descend from FL280 to 12000 ft. We were told at FL270 to stop and maintain altitude. The controller said not to worry, the clearance was for abed, not abcd, but there was no conflict. Controller then told us it was 'our' fault and 'we should not have accepted the descent clearance.' question #1: how can we practically operate daily, questioning every clearance given by ATC? Question #2: at what point is ATC responsible for erroneous clrncs?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER HEARING AND ACKNOWLEDGING A CLRNC TO DSND, AN ACR CREW IS STOPPED AND TOLD THE CLRNC WAS FOR ANOTHER COMPANY ACFT.

Narrative: AS ABCD, WE 'ROGERED' A CLRNC TO CHANGE FREQS FROM ZLA. THERE WAS ANOTHER COMPANY ABED ON FREQ. WE CHANGED FREQS AND WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO DSND FROM FL280 TO 12000 FT. WE WERE TOLD AT FL270 TO STOP AND MAINTAIN ALT. THE CTLR SAID NOT TO WORRY, THE CLRNC WAS FOR ABED, NOT ABCD, BUT THERE WAS NO CONFLICT. CTLR THEN TOLD US IT WAS 'OUR' FAULT AND 'WE SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCEPTED THE DSCNT CLRNC.' QUESTION #1: HOW CAN WE PRACTICALLY OPERATE DAILY, QUESTIONING EVERY CLRNC GIVEN BY ATC? QUESTION #2: AT WHAT POINT IS ATC RESPONSIBLE FOR ERRONEOUS CLRNCS?

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.