ARTCC controller was not satisfied with aircraft's rate of descent.

Attributes
ACN	103630
Time
Date	198901
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pgs
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28800 msl bound upper : 28800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 310
ASRS Report	103630
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 115 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 115
ASRS Report	103465
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

While cruising at FL350 ZAB advised us to descend to 31000' (ZLA request, landing las). After starting a slow descent he told us to continue down to FL280 and we acknowledged. At approximately 28800' he told us to do an immediate 360 degree turn due to conflicting traffic. The controller got upset and asked if we understood the clearance. We did and read it back as such. We have no idea how far the traffic was. We had maintained the same rate of descent down for 6000' and felt this should give the controller a good enough trend. If he wanted a faster rate, all he had to do was say so. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter said that he established a 1000 FPM descent when clearance received. He said that he thought ZLA wanted him at 28000' before entering ZLA airspace, but that this had not been explained to him by ZAB controller. He said that other aircraft seemed to be having trouble with the controller and that he thought the controller had a 'personality problem.' he does not think any conflict occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC CTLR WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH ACFT'S RATE OF DESCENT.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING AT FL350 ZAB ADVISED US TO DSND TO 31000' (ZLA REQUEST, LNDG LAS). AFTER STARTING A SLOW DSCNT HE TOLD US TO CONTINUE DOWN TO FL280 AND WE ACKNOWLEDGED. AT APPROX 28800' HE TOLD US TO DO AN IMMEDIATE 360 DEG TURN DUE TO CONFLICTING TFC. THE CTLR GOT UPSET AND ASKED IF WE UNDERSTOOD THE CLRNC. WE DID AND READ IT BACK AS SUCH. WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAR THE TFC WAS. WE HAD MAINTAINED THE SAME RATE OF DSCNT DOWN FOR 6000' AND FELT THIS SHOULD GIVE THE CTLR A GOOD ENOUGH TREND. IF HE WANTED A FASTER RATE, ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS SAY SO. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR SAID THAT HE ESTABLISHED A 1000 FPM DSCNT WHEN CLRNC RECEIVED. HE SAID THAT HE THOUGHT ZLA WANTED HIM AT 28000' BEFORE ENTERING ZLA AIRSPACE, BUT THAT THIS HAD NOT BEEN EXPLAINED TO HIM BY ZAB CTLR. HE SAID THAT OTHER ACFT SEEMED TO BE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CTLR AND THAT HE THOUGHT THE CTLR HAD A 'PERSONALITY PROBLEM.' HE DOES NOT THINK ANY CONFLICT OCCURRED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.