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TRACON controller issued an 'expect' clearance for a lower altitude only to witness the aircraft in question begin a descent.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1064461 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201302 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001-0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.TRACON |
| State Reference | US |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Learjet 31 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Approach Departure |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Developmental |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance |
Narrative:
Air carrier X was arriving from the east and was given a descent clearance; pilot's discretion (pd); to 080 due to the MVA at 080 east. As air carrier X was leaving 100 I advised the pilot to expect lower in 7 miles to which he replied 'will do'. A minute later I noticed that air carrier X was at 078 and approximately 2 to 3 miles east of the 080 MVA boundary line. I then advised air carrier X to check his altimeter and advised him that our altimeter was 29.36 to which he replied 'roger'. I then noted his altitude readout continued down to 076 and then back up to 078; which by that point he was clear of the 080 MVA. I then gave him a descent clearance to 030. Ensure that the pilot understood that he was to maintain 080; and to expect lower in 7 miles. I feel by the way that he had replied to me; that he might have thought that I had given him further clearance down to 080.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: TRACON Controller issued an 'expect' clearance for a lower altitude only to witness the aircraft in question begin a descent.
Narrative: Air Carrier X was arriving from the East and was given a descent clearance; pilot's discretion (PD); to 080 due to the MVA at 080 East. As Air Carrier X was leaving 100 I advised the pilot to expect lower in 7 miles to which he replied 'Will do'. A minute later I noticed that Air Carrier X was at 078 and approximately 2 to 3 miles East of the 080 MVA boundary line. I then advised Air Carrier X to check his altimeter and advised him that our altimeter was 29.36 to which he replied 'Roger'. I then noted his altitude readout continued down to 076 and then back up to 078; which by that point he was clear of the 080 MVA. I then gave him a descent clearance to 030. Ensure that the pilot understood that he was to maintain 080; and to expect lower in 7 miles. I feel by the way that he had replied to me; that he might have thought that I had given him further clearance down to 080.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.