Narrative:

Flosi 3 RNAV STAR arrival into ewr. The VNAV performance was causing a distraction to the entire three person crew. I was the monitoring pilot and was documenting the VNAV abnormality for further investigation. The first officer (first officer) was managing the VNAV problem with MCP inputs in order to make the last minute ATC crossing restriction crank at 8;000. Shortly after crossing crank boston center told us to contact ny approach on 120.15.I switched to the cleared frequency and it was immediately apparent that it was very busy with non-stop clearances and read backs. Before there was a break in the transmissions for me to check in; approach gave us a clearance 210 heading; decent 6;000; ILS 22L ATIS foxtrot. I read back the clearance and the first officer followed the clearance. Within three minutes; ny approach transmission stated 'for the third time; fly direct to teb decent 5;000.' I acknowledged the clearance. I was not certain of the altitude we were cleared to and was very surprised to hear approach say 'for the third time;' meaning it was the third time the controller had given us the direct teb. I verified with the crew if our altitude clearance was 5;000. We all agreed to get clarification and I did so. Not one of us heard a clearance to go direct teb until approach gave us the clearance to go direct teb for the third time.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Captain reported receiving notice from ATC; while on arrival to EWR; that it was the third time they were issuing a clearance. The Captain referenced the frequency was very busy.

Narrative: FLOSI 3 RNAV STAR arrival into EWR. The VNAV performance was causing a distraction to the entire three person crew. I was the monitoring pilot and was documenting the VNAV abnormality for further investigation. The First Officer (FO) was managing the VNAV problem with MCP inputs in order to make the last minute ATC crossing restriction CRANK at 8;000. Shortly after crossing CRANK Boston Center told us to contact NY Approach on 120.15.I switched to the cleared frequency and it was immediately apparent that it was very busy with non-stop clearances and read backs. Before there was a break in the transmissions for me to check in; approach gave us a clearance 210 heading; decent 6;000; ILS 22L ATIS Foxtrot. I read back the clearance and the FO followed the clearance. Within three minutes; NY approach transmission stated 'For the third time; fly direct to TEB decent 5;000.' I acknowledged the clearance. I was not certain of the altitude we were cleared to and was very surprised to hear approach say 'For the third time;' meaning it was the third time the Controller had given us the direct TEB. I verified with the crew if our altitude clearance was 5;000. We all agreed to get clarification and I did so. Not one of us heard a clearance to go direct TEB until approach gave us the clearance to go direct TEB for the third time.'

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.