<< >> NASA ASRS Report 134480, January 1990

Pilot questions the use of controller phraseology regarding published crossing restrictions. Does not understand if 'do the best you can' means the restriction may be made or not.

Attributes
ACN	134480
Time
Date	199001
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zau
State Reference	IL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 19000
ASRS Report	134480
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

I was level at FL350 and I heard another flight who had previously been given a crossing restriction tell center that it was going to be difficult to make the restriction. Center responded by saying, 'do the best you can.' as a pilot, you could believe that this eliminates the need to make the restriction. However, in my opinion, it does not. You have not been reissued a new clearance. Therefore, the old one applies and an unsuspecting pilot set up for a dangerous situation worst case and/or a possible flight violation. What do you think? 'Do the best you can' eliminate the need to make the crossing restriction? Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: called reporter for address. Also discussed statement by controller 'do the best you can.' told him that it probably should be in the pilot/controller glossary to clear up any misunderstandings, or not used at all by controllers.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT QUESTIONS THE USE OF CTLR PHRASEOLOGY REGARDING PUBLISHED CROSSING RESTRICTIONS. DOES NOT UNDERSTAND IF 'DO THE BEST YOU CAN' MEANS THE RESTRICTION MAY BE MADE OR NOT.

Narrative: I WAS LEVEL AT FL350 AND I HEARD ANOTHER FLT WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN GIVEN A XING RESTRICTION TELL CENTER THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE RESTRICTION. CENTER RESPONDED BY SAYING, 'DO THE BEST YOU CAN.' AS A PLT, YOU COULD BELIEVE THAT THIS ELIMINATES THE NEED TO MAKE THE RESTRICTION. HOWEVER, IN MY OPINION, IT DOES NOT. YOU HAVE NOT BEEN REISSUED A NEW CLRNC. THEREFORE, THE OLD ONE APPLIES AND AN UNSUSPECTING PLT SET UP FOR A DANGEROUS SITUATION WORST CASE AND/OR A POSSIBLE FLT VIOLATION. WHAT DO YOU THINK? 'DO THE BEST YOU CAN' ELIMINATE THE NEED TO MAKE THE XING RESTRICTION? CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: CALLED RPTR FOR ADDRESS. ALSO DISCUSSED STATEMENT BY CTLR 'DO THE BEST YOU CAN.' TOLD HIM THAT IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE IN THE PLT/CTLR GLOSSARY TO CLEAR UP ANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS, OR NOT USED AT ALL BY CTLRS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.