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B737-800 pilot described a verbal altercation with a ZSE controller concerning an RNAV arrival.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1377563 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201608 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZSE.ARTCC |
| State Reference | WA |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737-800 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
Shortly after top of descent after departing FL360; with clearance to cross jotba at FL240; crossing through FL342; ATC directed us to level off at FL340 immediately. It sounded like another voice cut in so I assume it was an ATC supervisor. We had no time to fully comply with the clearance and descended to FL335. I noticed on TCAS that we were within 5 miles of traffic 400 feet below us. We climbed back to FL340 and ATC vectored us off the arrival.after being vectored off of the arrival and being kept up at FL340; we were getting high on arrival to accomplish a normal descent. I inquired of ATC to say intentions. After several minutes; ATC directed us to descend via the arrival. I replied 'what fix do you want us to proceed to and at what altitude'. The reply from ATC was 'you figure it out'. After gross ATC mismanagement; and after having nearly been descended on top of another aircraft; ATC responded in a very unprofessional and unacceptable manner. When I communicated this to him he advised me that if I did not like the way he was handling me I could call him. I did not ask for a number (I wish I had) and we were handed off to approach who was very helpful and got us back on the arrival. I am angered that our safety was jeopardized and feel that this controller should be disciplined.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B737-800 pilot described a verbal altercation with a ZSE Controller concerning an RNAV arrival.
Narrative: Shortly after top of descent after departing FL360; with clearance to cross JOTBA at FL240; crossing through FL342; ATC directed us to level off at FL340 immediately. It sounded like another voice cut in so I assume it was an ATC supervisor. We had no time to fully comply with the clearance and descended to FL335. I noticed on TCAS that we were within 5 miles of traffic 400 feet below us. We climbed back to FL340 and ATC vectored us off the arrival.After being vectored off of the arrival and being kept up at FL340; we were getting high on arrival to accomplish a normal descent. I inquired of ATC to say intentions. After several minutes; ATC directed us to descend via the arrival. I replied 'what fix do you want us to proceed to and at what altitude'. The reply from ATC was 'you figure it out'. After gross ATC mismanagement; and after having nearly been descended on top of another aircraft; ATC responded in a very unprofessional and unacceptable manner. When I communicated this to him he advised me that if I did not like the way he was handling me I could call him. I did not ask for a number (I wish I had) and we were handed off to approach who was very helpful and got us back on the arrival. I am angered that our safety was jeopardized and feel that this controller should be disciplined.
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.