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Air carrier cleared for descent queried controller after unreadable communications. Given heading and altitude change and upon questioning again, cleared to original flight level.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 157662 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199009 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : anx |
| State Reference | MO |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 24000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zck |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Navigation In Use | Other Other |
| Flight Phase | descent 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 : 150 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1700 |
| ASRS Report | 157662 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
Position: 30 mi east of anx inbound on 120 degree right. Aircraft scheduled air carrier flight. On descent for landing at mci, initial descent clearance was given to FL240 while proceeding direct to anx. A short while later, further descent clearance was given and read back for descent to FL190. Just prior to FL190 several ATC xmissions were heard on frequency with unintelligible call signs. When I queried the controller as to whether that call was for our flight, I was told to turn left to a 260 degree heading and climb to FL210. I questioned our original altitude clearance to FL190 and was told at that time to maintain FL190. I felt there was some confusion on the part of the ATC controller as to what altitude we had been cleared to. This made me feel very uncomfortable.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ACR CLEARED FOR DESCENT QUERIED CTLR AFTER UNREADABLE COMS. GIVEN HEADING AND ALT CHANGE AND UPON QUESTIONING AGAIN, CLEARED TO ORIGINAL FLT LEVEL.
Narrative: POS: 30 MI E OF ANX INBND ON 120 DEG R. ACFT SCHEDULED ACR FLT. ON DSNT FOR LNDG AT MCI, INITIAL DSNT CLRNC WAS GIVEN TO FL240 WHILE PROCEEDING DIRECT TO ANX. A SHORT WHILE LATER, FURTHER DSNT CLRNC WAS GIVEN AND READ BACK FOR DSNT TO FL190. JUST PRIOR TO FL190 SEVERAL ATC XMISSIONS WERE HEARD ON FREQ WITH UNINTELLIGIBLE CALL SIGNS. WHEN I QUERIED THE CTLR AS TO WHETHER THAT CALL WAS FOR OUR FLT, I WAS TOLD TO TURN LEFT TO A 260 DEG HDG AND CLB TO FL210. I QUESTIONED OUR ORIGINAL ALT CLRNC TO FL190 AND WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME TO MAINTAIN FL190. I FELT THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ON THE PART OF THE ATC CTLR AS TO WHAT ALT WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO. THIS MADE ME FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
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.