A B757-200 captain and the approach controller disagreed as to the meaning of 'cleared for a visual ...

Attributes
ACN	878772
Time
Date	201003
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	PDX.Airport
State Reference	OR
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Landing
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 110 Flight Crew Total 20000 Flight Crew Type 1000
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

We got cleared for a visual to runway 10L. When turning final; the controller stated we should have flown over the confluence of the rivers and be at 2;500 feet. I responded we were cleared for the visual; not the columbia charted visual. The controller stated 'that is on the ATIS'. We looked again at the ATIS. It said ' expect columbia visual approach'. We also looked again at the charted visual; and nowhere does it state a mandatory altitude; it lists a 'recommended 2;500 feet'. Being cleared for a visual; does not mean cleared for a specific charted visual unless specifically stated in the clearance. Both pilots heard 'cleared for visual to 10L' and that is precisely what I read back.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 Captain and the Approach Controller disagreed as to the meaning of 'cleared for a visual approach' when the ATIS advised to expect a specific charted visual approach.

Narrative: We got cleared for a visual to Runway 10L. When turning final; the Controller stated we should have flown over the confluence of the rivers and be at 2;500 feet. I responded we were cleared for the visual; not the Columbia charted visual. The Controller stated 'That is on the ATIS'. We looked again at the ATIS. It said ' Expect Columbia visual approach'. We also looked again at the charted visual; and nowhere does it state a mandatory altitude; it lists a 'recommended 2;500 feet'. Being cleared for a visual; does NOT mean cleared for a specific charted visual unless specifically stated in the clearance. Both pilots heard 'cleared for visual to 10L' and that is precisely what I read back.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

A B757-200 captain and the approach controller disagreed as to the meaning of 'cleared for a visual approach' when the ATIS advised to expect a specific charted visual approach.