Air carrier X non adherence to ATC clearance (descent from cruise altitude).

Attributes
ACN	240940
Time
Date	199305
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ric
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 2100
ASRS Report	240940
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Air carrier X from atl to dca. We were approximately 130 mi south of richmond, va, at FL330. Controller instructed us to descend to FL250. The captain asked, 'is that at pilot's discretion?' no, responded ZDC (133.72). Captain: 'where's the traffic for air carrier X? Controller: 'I don't have time, expedite your descent.' captain: 'where's the traffic.' controller: 'one more time and you are on report.' captain: 'where's the traffic.' controller' 'that's it, you are on report.' captain: 'where's the traffic.' controller: 'one more time and it's only going to get worse.' captain' what's your phone number.' controller -- no reply. Captain: 'again, what's your phone number.' still no reply. Although this situation could have been easily avoided by both parties, it was not. My main question and concern is -- what is on report? After being a licensed pilot for over 15 yrs, I have never heard the term 'on report.' although I was part of the crew, I was not part of the conversation. In my opinion the captain had a right to know where the traffic was, he should not have pressed the issue to the point he did.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC (DSCNT FROM CRUISE ALT).

Narrative: ACR X FROM ATL TO DCA. WE WERE APPROX 130 MI S OF RICHMOND, VA, AT FL330. CTLR INSTRUCTED US TO DSND TO FL250. THE CAPT ASKED, 'IS THAT AT PLT'S DISCRETION?' NO, RESPONDED ZDC (133.72). CAPT: 'WHERE'S THE TFC FOR ACR X? CTLR: 'I DON'T HAVE TIME, EXPEDITE YOUR DSCNT.' CAPT: 'WHERE'S THE TFC.' CTLR: 'ONE MORE TIME AND YOU ARE ON RPT.' CAPT: 'WHERE'S THE TFC.' CTLR' 'THAT'S IT, YOU ARE ON RPT.' CAPT: 'WHERE'S THE TFC.' CTLR: 'ONE MORE TIME AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.' CAPT' WHAT'S YOUR PHONE NUMBER.' CTLR -- NO REPLY. CAPT: 'AGAIN, WHAT'S YOUR PHONE NUMBER.' STILL NO REPLY. ALTHOUGH THIS SIT COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY AVOIDED BY BOTH PARTIES, IT WAS NOT. MY MAIN QUESTION AND CONCERN IS -- WHAT IS ON RPT? AFTER BEING A LICENSED PLT FOR OVER 15 YRS, I HAVE NEVER HEARD THE TERM 'ON RPT.' ALTHOUGH I WAS PART OF THE CREW, I WAS NOT PART OF THE CONVERSATION. IN MY OPINION THE CAPT HAD A RIGHT TO KNOW WHERE THE TFC WAS, HE SHOULD NOT HAVE PRESSED THE ISSUE TO THE POINT HE DID.

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.