Arrival aircraft descending in contact with pct, questions ATC phraseology regarding STAR procedures...

Attributes
ACN	610293
Time
Date	200403
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca.airport
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl single value : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc tracon : pct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : bocko 6
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	610293
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Cleared to cross druzz at 15000 ft by ZDC. Handed off to potomac approach. Potomac cleared us to aml, 10 mi west of druzz, to 'resume the arrival.' we continued our descent towards aml at 8000 ft. Problem: 'resume the arrival' can lead one to believe they are to comply with crossing restr -- even though they are 'expect.' corrective actions: 'resume the arrival, maintain XXX altitude' would remove all ambiguity.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARR ACFT DSNDING IN CONTACT WITH PCT, QUESTIONS ATC PHRASEOLOGY REGARDING STAR PROCS.

Narrative: CLRED TO CROSS DRUZZ AT 15000 FT BY ZDC. HANDED OFF TO POTOMAC APCH. POTOMAC CLRED US TO AML, 10 MI W OF DRUZZ, TO 'RESUME THE ARR.' WE CONTINUED OUR DSCNT TOWARDS AML AT 8000 FT. PROB: 'RESUME THE ARR' CAN LEAD ONE TO BELIEVE THEY ARE TO COMPLY WITH XING RESTR -- EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE 'EXPECT.' CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: 'RESUME THE ARR, MAINTAIN XXX ALT' WOULD REMOVE ALL AMBIGUITY.

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.