Potential conflict in the offing with descending opposite direction traffic.

Attributes
ACN	299977
Time
Date	199503
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gve
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 29400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 6100 flight time type : 2100
ASRS Report	299977
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 48000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

We were proceeding eastbound on J42 to mol and gve and were given a clearance to descend to FL280 by 15 NM west of gve. We started our descent immediately. We overflew the mol VOR, but by the time we tuned in the gve VOR we were still at 29400 ft at the 15 DME fix. The controller gave us a little lecture about that and stated that he had opposite direction traffic 8 mi east of us at FL290. Prior to this point the controller never mentioned other traffic, gave no vectors off the jet route to avoid a conflict, and never mentioned an expedited descent. We certainly could have handled this better ourselves. However, this type of clearance frequency causes problems. And if we're supposed to be working as a team up there, some of the teamwork was lacking on the other side as well. If coming within 8 mi and 600 ft is dangerous the controller who saw the situation developing and did nothing has some explaining to do.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POTENTIAL CONFLICT IN THE OFFING WITH DSNDING OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC.

Narrative: WE WERE PROCEEDING EBOUND ON J42 TO MOL AND GVE AND WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO DSND TO FL280 BY 15 NM W OF GVE. WE STARTED OUR DSCNT IMMEDIATELY. WE OVERFLEW THE MOL VOR, BUT BY THE TIME WE TUNED IN THE GVE VOR WE WERE STILL AT 29400 FT AT THE 15 DME FIX. THE CTLR GAVE US A LITTLE LECTURE ABOUT THAT AND STATED THAT HE HAD OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC 8 MI E OF US AT FL290. PRIOR TO THIS POINT THE CTLR NEVER MENTIONED OTHER TFC, GAVE NO VECTORS OFF THE JET RTE TO AVOID A CONFLICT, AND NEVER MENTIONED AN EXPEDITED DSCNT. WE CERTAINLY COULD HAVE HANDLED THIS BETTER OURSELVES. HOWEVER, THIS TYPE OF CLRNC FREQ CAUSES PROBS. AND IF WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING AS A TEAM UP THERE, SOME OF THE TEAMWORK WAS LACKING ON THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL. IF COMING WITHIN 8 MI AND 600 FT IS DANGEROUS THE CTLR WHO SAW THE SIT DEVELOPING AND DID NOTHING HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO.

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.