Narrative:

Flight was cleared by center from cruise at FL330 to descend to FL270 (about 125 mi south of flat rock VOR). Center was asked if this descent was 'pilot's discretion'. Center's reply was 'descend now to FL290 then cross flat rock (fak) at 270.' the descent to 290 was initiated and the flight crew read back the instruction to descend to 290 to cross flat rock (fak) at 270. This was acknowledged by center. At approximately 78 mi south of fak center asked the flight what clearance had been given and the crew read back '290 to cross fak at 270'. Center then said the clearance was to cross 80 south of fak at 270. The crew descended to 270 and told center our readback was to descend to 290 to cross fak at 270 and it was acknowledged. Center said at this point ok and gave a frequency change. The crossing was not for aircraft separation. I frequently fly scheduled air carrier flts in the northeast as well as northeast florida areas. Whether the problem is manpwr, equipment, procedures or scheduling, there is definitely a problem! ZDC and ZMA seem overwhelmed with traffic. One evening alone, earlier in the month, in about a 10 minute period, ZMA issued 4 or 5 misinstructions of altitude changes and frequency changes. At ZDC it is difficult to communicate at any time due to excessive radio traffic.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER CITES ONE INSTANCE OF MISCOM AND MISINTERP CLRNC READBACK AS A GENERAL COMPLAINT AGAINST THE ATC SYSTEM DUE TO TRAFFIC VOLUME AND MISHANDLING BY CERTAIN AREA CTLRS.

Narrative: FLT WAS CLRED BY CENTER FROM CRUISE AT FL330 TO DSND TO FL270 (ABOUT 125 MI S OF FLAT ROCK VOR). CENTER WAS ASKED IF THIS DSCNT WAS 'PLT'S DISCRETION'. CENTER'S REPLY WAS 'DSND NOW TO FL290 THEN CROSS FLAT ROCK (FAK) AT 270.' THE DSCNT TO 290 WAS INITIATED AND THE FLT CREW READ BACK THE INSTRUCTION TO DSND TO 290 TO CROSS FLAT ROCK (FAK) AT 270. THIS WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY CENTER. AT APPROX 78 MI S OF FAK CENTER ASKED THE FLT WHAT CLRNC HAD BEEN GIVEN AND THE CREW READ BACK '290 TO CROSS FAK AT 270'. CENTER THEN SAID THE CLRNC WAS TO CROSS 80 S OF FAK AT 270. THE CREW DESCENDED TO 270 AND TOLD CENTER OUR READBACK WAS TO DSND TO 290 TO CROSS FAK AT 270 AND IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED. CENTER SAID AT THIS POINT OK AND GAVE A FREQ CHANGE. THE XING WAS NOT FOR ACFT SEPARATION. I FREQUENTLY FLY SCHEDULED AIR CARRIER FLTS IN THE NE AS WELL AS NE FLORIDA AREAS. WHETHER THE PROBLEM IS MANPWR, EQUIPMENT, PROCS OR SCHEDULING, THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM! ZDC AND ZMA SEEM OVERWHELMED WITH TFC. ONE EVENING ALONE, EARLIER IN THE MONTH, IN ABOUT A 10 MINUTE PERIOD, ZMA ISSUED 4 OR 5 MISINSTRUCTIONS OF ALT CHANGES AND FREQ CHANGES. AT ZDC IT IS DIFFICULT TO COMMUNICATE AT ANY TIME DUE TO EXCESSIVE RADIO TFC.

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.