Medium large transport flight crew fails to begin timely descent when cleared by ARTCC.

Attributes
ACN	337070
Time
Date	199605
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : orf
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
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
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 6300
ASRS Report	337070
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were level FL330 and given a clearance to FL290 on J-121 between iso and orf. We did not leave FL330 right away because we thought the clearance was at pilot's discretion. The controller queried us about leaving FL330 for FL290 about 40 mi after he gave us the clearance. Once we realized he wanted us to start down immediately we expedited the descent to FL290. We were told there weren't any conflicts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG FLC FAILS TO BEGIN TIMELY DSCNT WHEN CLRED BY ARTCC.

Narrative: WE WERE LEVEL FL330 AND GIVEN A CLRNC TO FL290 ON J-121 BTWN ISO AND ORF. WE DID NOT LEAVE FL330 RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THE CLRNC WAS AT PLT'S DISCRETION. THE CTLR QUERIED US ABOUT LEAVING FL330 FOR FL290 ABOUT 40 MI AFTER HE GAVE US THE CLRNC. ONCE WE REALIZED HE WANTED US TO START DOWN IMMEDIATELY WE EXPEDITED THE DSCNT TO FL290. WE WERE TOLD THERE WEREN'T ANY CONFLICTS.

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.