ZDC controller describes an aircraft given a descent clearance; the aircraft descending; and then cl...

Attributes
ACN	1238130
Time
Date	201502
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZDC.ARTCC
State Reference	VA
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Airbus Industrie Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR SPIDR 1
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 26
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Narrative:

Aircraft X leveled off at FL210 about 18 miles west of mol. I then waited for at least two radar updates and then issued a descent via the Spider1 landing south richmond airport. After the clearance was read back the airbus started a very slow descent; 209; 208; 207; and then shot backup to FL210. No other aircraft in the vicinity and other than an altitude deviation; no harm done. But; we have had many issues with [another airline] airbus aircraft descending into the charlotte; nc. Airport missing their altitudes that I thought that this aircraft X airbus should be tested. As if on cue; once the aircraft was flat and level; it started to descend. This issue seems with airbus only.have airbus look into and fix the issue before a midair happens and a loss of life happens. The FAA should be a leader on this and not a reaction to this possible event.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC Controller describes an aircraft given a descent clearance; the aircraft descending; and then climbs back to old assigned altitude. Controller thought this a company problem; but this aircraft was the same type; but a different company.

Narrative: Aircraft X leveled off at FL210 about 18 miles west of MOL. I then waited for at least two radar updates and then issued a descent via the Spider1 landing south Richmond airport. After the clearance was read back the AirBus started a very slow descent; 209; 208; 207; and then shot backup to FL210. No other aircraft in the vicinity and other than an altitude deviation; no harm done. But; we have had many issues with [Another Airline] Airbus aircraft descending into the Charlotte; NC. Airport missing their altitudes that I thought that this Aircraft X Airbus should be tested. As if on cue; once the aircraft was flat and level; it started to descend. This issue seems with Airbus only.Have Airbus look into and fix the issue before a midair happens and a loss of life happens. The FAA should be a leader on this and not a reaction to this possible event.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

ZDC controller describes an aircraft given a descent clearance; the aircraft descending; and then climbs back to old assigned altitude. Controller thought this a company problem; but this aircraft was the same type; but a different company.