Delayed clearance caused medium large transport to make altitude losing turns to complete approach.

Attributes
ACN	123594
Time
Date	198909
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : djb
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl bound lower : 23000 agl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 19600 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	123594
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were on V435 between rod VOR and djb VOR. There were numerous voice contacts being made between center and other aircraft, but by the time we were about 35 mi from djb VOR we became concerned as to when center would start us down from FL230. So I called and was told to switch frequencys, and that we were supposed to have switched sooner--but we did not receive any call previous to do that. When we switched, several turns had to made to get us down for the approach. I wonder, however, whether they simply forgot about us and just thought they had called us. This happens to me a lot--or they will call you and simply neglect to get a response from you. In other words, assuming that you heard them. I know they all are busy, but they do talk too fast sometimes. More controllers and more frequencys would go a long way in reducing the congestion on the airwaves.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DELAYED CLRNC CAUSED MLG TO MAKE ALT LOSING TURNS TO COMPLETE APCH.

Narrative: WE WERE ON V435 BTWN ROD VOR AND DJB VOR. THERE WERE NUMEROUS VOICE CONTACTS BEING MADE BTWN CENTER AND OTHER ACFT, BUT BY THE TIME WE WERE ABOUT 35 MI FROM DJB VOR WE BECAME CONCERNED AS TO WHEN CENTER WOULD START US DOWN FROM FL230. SO I CALLED AND WAS TOLD TO SWITCH FREQS, AND THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE SWITCHED SOONER--BUT WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY CALL PREVIOUS TO DO THAT. WHEN WE SWITCHED, SEVERAL TURNS HAD TO MADE TO GET US DOWN FOR THE APCH. I WONDER, HOWEVER, WHETHER THEY SIMPLY FORGOT ABOUT US AND JUST THOUGHT THEY HAD CALLED US. THIS HAPPENS TO ME A LOT--OR THEY WILL CALL YOU AND SIMPLY NEGLECT TO GET A RESPONSE FROM YOU. IN OTHER WORDS, ASSUMING THAT YOU HEARD THEM. I KNOW THEY ALL ARE BUSY, BUT THEY DO TALK TOO FAST SOMETIMES. MORE CTLRS AND MORE FREQS WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN REDUCING THE CONGESTION ON THE AIRWAVES.

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.