Large transport flight crew; given a descent from 8000 feet to 6000 feet by approach control; were t...

Attributes
ACN	1299191
Time
Date	201509
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	YSSY.Airport
State Reference	FO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Large Transport Low Wing 3 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors STAR MARLN1
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75 Flight Crew Total 15000 Flight Crew Type 1500
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35 Flight Crew Total 18000 Flight Crew Type 3000
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

Flying into yssy we were vectored off of the caps one arrival and given headings; airspeed and descents by the sydney controller. We were then given an airspeed of 275 knots and given direct to marln and continue the marln one arrival. After passing marln we were given a descent to 8;000 feet. Between marln and whale we leveled off at 8;000 feet and were given a frequency change. Near whale the new controller; whom we had just checked in with gave us a descent to 6;000 feet. The captain read back the clearance 'departing 8;000 feet for 6;000 feet' and I started a 1;000 FPM descent with the vertical speed. Passing about 6;800 feet MSL the controller stated the bottom of his control area was 7;500 feet; climb and maintain 8;000 feet. The captain replied to the controller that the controller had told us to descend and maintain 6;000 feet and that he had replied 'departing 8;000 feet for 6;000 feet'. The controller said 'yeah; but I didn't know you were going to do it'. We climbed and maintained 8;000 feet. The rest of the STAR; approach and landing was uneventful. I thought this occurrence was possibly the controller's mistake; but bizarre to say the least.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Large Transport flight crew; given a descent from 8000 feet to 6000 feet by Approach Control; were told at 6800 feet that they were supposed to be at 8000 feet.

Narrative: Flying into YSSY we were vectored off of the CAPS One arrival and given headings; airspeed and descents by the Sydney Controller. We were then given an airspeed of 275 knots and given direct to MARLN and continue the MARLN One arrival. After passing MARLN we were given a descent to 8;000 feet. Between MARLN and WHALE we leveled off at 8;000 feet and were given a frequency change. Near WHALE the new controller; whom we had just checked in with gave us a descent to 6;000 feet. The Captain read back the clearance 'Departing 8;000 feet for 6;000 feet' and I started a 1;000 FPM descent with the vertical speed. Passing about 6;800 feet MSL the controller stated the bottom of his control area was 7;500 feet; climb and maintain 8;000 feet. The Captain replied to the controller that the controller had told us to descend and maintain 6;000 feet and that he had replied 'Departing 8;000 feet for 6;000 feet'. The controller said 'Yeah; but I didn't know you were going to do it'. We climbed and maintained 8;000 feet. The rest of the STAR; approach and landing was uneventful. I thought this occurrence was possibly the controller's mistake; but bizarre to say the least.

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.

Large transport flight crew; given a descent from 8000 feet to 6000 feet by approach control; were told at 6800 feet that they were supposed to be at 8000 feet.