Phl controller voiced concern regarding confusion involving the JAIKE3 RNAV STAR; the reporter notin...

Attributes
ACN	968108
Time
Date	201109
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	PHL.TRACON
State Reference	PA
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Light Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR JAIKE 3
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45 Flight Crew Total 10560 Flight Crew Type 185
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Narrative:

Aircraft #1 was issued a descent clearance to 'descend via the JAIKE3 arrival' and descended early. The JAIKE3 arrival has been problematic since its inception; several modifications have been made to reduce the occurrences of pilots descending early. This happens occasionally but it is a safety factor in my opinion. In discussions with pilots; I believe that the descent profile is confusing. They are to cross jaike at 13;000 then the next restriction is to cross ilene at 13;000. Pilots have told me that after they cross jaike at 13;000; their tendency is to look for the next lower altitude on the profile; (looking past the next 13;000 at ilene) which is wacky at 11;000. I'm not a pilot but understand how this might be a problem for them. Although it is a mental error on the pilot's part; I recommend looking at this profile again to try to eliminate the potential for this confusion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PHL Controller voiced concern regarding confusion involving the JAIKE3 RNAV STAR; the reporter noting the charting/clearance issued by ATC could easily be confused.

Narrative: Aircraft #1 was issued a descent clearance to 'descend via the JAIKE3 arrival' and descended early. The JAIKE3 arrival has been problematic since its inception; several modifications have been made to reduce the occurrences of pilots descending early. This happens occasionally but it is a safety factor in my opinion. In discussions with pilots; I believe that the descent profile is confusing. They are to cross JAIKE at 13;000 then the next restriction is to cross ILENE at 13;000. Pilots have told me that after they cross JAIKE at 13;000; their tendency is to look for the next lower altitude on the profile; (looking past the next 13;000 at ILENE) which is WACKY at 11;000. I'm not a pilot but understand how this might be a problem for them. Although it is a mental error on the pilot's part; I recommend looking at this profile again to try to eliminate the potential for this confusion.

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.

Phl controller voiced concern regarding confusion involving the JAIKE3 RNAV STAR; the reporter noting the charting/clearance issued by ATC could easily be confused.