Narrative:

Initially cleared...J501 bsr sfo in lax. About 70 NM south of bsr oakland issued a clearance air carrier large transport is cleared bsr profile descent route runway 28 sfo. The crossing restrictions on the profile indicated that a descent to commence about 40 NM south of bsr. We commenced descent, notified oak ARTCC and then was told that a descent clearance was not issued, but only a routing. Aircraft altitude terminated at 34900' MSL. I felt the phraseology was inconsistent with the request desired. In reality the controller wanted us to fly the 'right of V27 to intercept the 151 degree right off of oak, maintain FL350.' when cleared profile descent with or west/O the word 'routing' I am responsible to fly the route designated and comply with the altitudes and airspeed restrictions. The next controller, after the initial controller, gave FL240, again cleared us for a profile descent. The question then arose as to a descent below FL240. The latter controller was implying that we comply with the route, altitude and speed restriction. Suggest profile descent not be issued unless a descent is implied. In discussing this misinterp with oak ARTCC area mge, he indicated to me that recently he is aware of three previous infractions in this clearance. He is going to suggest a review of the phraseology to eliminate a misunderstanding.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT.

Narrative: INITIALLY CLRED...J501 BSR SFO IN LAX. ABOUT 70 NM S OF BSR OAKLAND ISSUED A CLRNC ACR LGT IS CLRED BSR PROFILE DSNT RTE RWY 28 SFO. THE XING RESTRICTIONS ON THE PROFILE INDICATED THAT A DSNT TO COMMENCE ABOUT 40 NM S OF BSR. WE COMMENCED DSNT, NOTIFIED OAK ARTCC AND THEN WAS TOLD THAT A DSNT CLRNC WAS NOT ISSUED, BUT ONLY A RTING. ACFT ALT TERMINATED AT 34900' MSL. I FELT THE PHRASEOLOGY WAS INCONSISTENT WITH THE REQUEST DESIRED. IN REALITY THE CTLR WANTED US TO FLY THE 'R OF V27 TO INTERCEPT THE 151 DEG R OFF OF OAK, MAINTAIN FL350.' WHEN CLRED PROFILE DSNT WITH OR W/O THE WORD 'RTING' I AM RESPONSIBLE TO FLY THE RTE DESIGNATED AND COMPLY WITH THE ALTS AND AIRSPD RESTRICTIONS. THE NEXT CTLR, AFTER THE INITIAL CTLR, GAVE FL240, AGAIN CLRED US FOR A PROFILE DSNT. THE QUESTION THEN AROSE AS TO A DSNT BELOW FL240. THE LATTER CTLR WAS IMPLYING THAT WE COMPLY WITH THE RTE, ALT AND SPD RESTRICTION. SUGGEST PROFILE DSNT NOT BE ISSUED UNLESS A DSNT IS IMPLIED. IN DISCUSSING THIS MISINTERP WITH OAK ARTCC AREA MGE, HE INDICATED TO ME THAT RECENTLY HE IS AWARE OF THREE PREVIOUS INFRACTIONS IN THIS CLRNC. HE IS GOING TO SUGGEST A REVIEW OF THE PHRASEOLOGY TO ELIMINATE A MISUNDERSTANDING.

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.