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When they were vectored off the gibbz RNAV STAR; by which they had previously been cleared to 'descend via;' the flight crew of an erj-170 were uncertain as to their cleared altitude. Difficulty communicating with the busy controller forced a brief level off at an intermediate altitude until a new clearance could be provided.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1071528 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201303 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | IAD.Airport |
| State Reference | VA |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | STAR GIBBZ1 |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types |
Narrative:
We were descending on the GIBBZ1 RNAV into iad between bbone and kilmr when ATC assigned us a 020 heading for traffic. Our descent clearance was 'descend via the gibbz arrival; with no specific altitude given. I told my first officer to ask ATC what altitude he wanted us at; and we got no reply. After 2 more unsuccessful tries to get an answer (the controller was busy); I leveled the aircraft at 11;000 ft; which was the altitude for the next fix. We finally got a reply to our questions and were told to continue to descend to 6;000 ft. We complied with no further issues.as we had [previously] been cleared to 'descend via' the STAR and; when vectored off of it; were no longer on the arrival; we had [no guidance as to our cleared] altitude. Ive had this happen a couple times; with different altitudes given each time; some the same as the bottom altitude [on the STAR]; some different. Anytime an aircraft has been given a 'descend via' clearance and is later turned off the arrival; ATC needs to assign an altitude.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: When they were vectored off the GIBBZ RNAV STAR; by which they had previously been cleared to 'descend via;' the flight crew of an ERJ-170 were uncertain as to their cleared altitude. Difficulty communicating with the busy Controller forced a brief level off at an intermediate altitude until a new clearance could be provided.
Narrative: We were descending on the GIBBZ1 RNAV into IAD between BBONE and KILMR when ATC assigned us a 020 heading for traffic. Our descent clearance was 'descend via the GIBBZ arrival; with no specific altitude given. I told my First Officer to ask ATC what altitude he wanted us at; and we got no reply. After 2 more unsuccessful tries to get an answer (the Controller was busy); I leveled the aircraft at 11;000 FT; which was the altitude for the next fix. We finally got a reply to our questions and were told to continue to descend to 6;000 FT. We complied with no further issues.As we had [previously] been cleared to 'descend via' the STAR and; when vectored off of it; were no longer on the arrival; we had [no guidance as to our cleared] altitude. Ive had this happen a couple times; with different altitudes given each time; some the same as the bottom altitude [on the STAR]; some different. Anytime an aircraft has been given a 'descend via' clearance and is later turned off the arrival; ATC needs to assign an altitude.
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.