G280 captain is cleared to descend via the SKNRD4 to iah. Once the descent is initiated; ATC issues ...

Attributes
ACN	1303981
Time
Date	201510
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZHU.ARTCC
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Gulfstream Jet Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR SKNRD4
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25 Flight Crew Total 3700 Flight Crew Type 115
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

Narrative:

Between the aex VOR and jerny intersection on the SKNRD4 arrival into iah; we were given a 'descend via' clearance from our cruise altitude of FL430. After we had initiated the descent; we were assigned a heading of 180 for spacing. We inquired as to what our new altitude clearance was; but were again told to 'descend via' the arrival. The controller was saturated; so we did not press the issue that a descend via clearance was invalid now that we were not on the lateral track of the STAR. We opted to reset the altitude preselector to FL240 so as to not go below the crossing restriction over the beatl intersection (between FL240 and FL280). We were subsequently recleared direct to doobi and continued with the descend via clearance.this is another case of controller's not correctly utilizing 'climb via' and 'descend via' clearances.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: G280 Captain is cleared to descend via the SKNRD4 to IAH. Once the descent is initiated; ATC issues a heading for spacing. When the crew asks for a new altitude assignment; they are told to descend via the arrival although they are no longer on the arrival.

Narrative: Between the AEX VOR and JERNY intersection on the SKNRD4 arrival into IAH; we were given a 'Descend Via' clearance from our cruise altitude of FL430. After we had initiated the descent; we were assigned a heading of 180 for spacing. We inquired as to what our new altitude clearance was; but were again told to 'descend via' the arrival. The controller was saturated; so we did not press the issue that a descend via clearance was invalid now that we were not on the lateral track of the STAR. We opted to reset the altitude preselector to FL240 so as to not go below the crossing restriction over the BEATL intersection (between FL240 and FL280). We were subsequently recleared direct to DOOBI and continued with the descend via clearance.This is another case of controller's not correctly utilizing 'climb via' and 'descend via' clearances.

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.

G280 captain is cleared to descend via the SKNRD4 to iah. Once the descent is initiated; ATC issues a heading for spacing. When the crew asks for a new altitude assignment; they are told to descend via the arrival although they are no longer on the arrival.