CL65 never received instructions to hold at rbv as ATC intended.

Attributes
ACN	347183
Time
Date	199609
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rbv airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Challenger CL604
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	347183
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	347120
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

ZDC mentioned 'selective holding' procedures and that there would be some aircraft holding going to ewr. On our descent on the warrd arrival, ZNY started handing out holding clrncs. We never received a holding clearance so we assumed we would go straight into ewr. At approximately 40 NM south of the airport, the captain queried ZNY. He said, 'do you want us to switch to approach?' at that point, ZNY told us to do an 'immediate right turn to 180 degrees' and then asked if we were given a hold. Shortly after the controller stated that someone else must have 'taken' our clearance and from there had us enter a hold at rbv on the warrd arrival. We held for approximately 4 mins and then proceeded inbound and the rest of the flight proceeded uneventfully. The captain and I had discussed the possibility of holding a couple of different fixes and in fact, set up the hold at holey intersection. We certainly expected it and when we didn't we did get a little suspicious. That's when the captain asked about the frequency switch.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL65 NEVER RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO HOLD AT RBV AS ATC INTENDED.

Narrative: ZDC MENTIONED 'SELECTIVE HOLDING' PROCS AND THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME ACFT HOLDING GOING TO EWR. ON OUR DSCNT ON THE WARRD ARR, ZNY STARTED HANDING OUT HOLDING CLRNCS. WE NEVER RECEIVED A HOLDING CLRNC SO WE ASSUMED WE WOULD GO STRAIGHT INTO EWR. AT APPROX 40 NM S OF THE ARPT, THE CAPT QUERIED ZNY. HE SAID, 'DO YOU WANT US TO SWITCH TO APCH?' AT THAT POINT, ZNY TOLD US TO DO AN 'IMMEDIATE R TURN TO 180 DEGS' AND THEN ASKED IF WE WERE GIVEN A HOLD. SHORTLY AFTER THE CTLR STATED THAT SOMEONE ELSE MUST HAVE 'TAKEN' OUR CLRNC AND FROM THERE HAD US ENTER A HOLD AT RBV ON THE WARRD ARR. WE HELD FOR APPROX 4 MINS AND THEN PROCEEDED INBOUND AND THE REST OF THE FLT PROCEEDED UNEVENTFULLY. THE CAPT AND I HAD DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF HOLDING A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FIXES AND IN FACT, SET UP THE HOLD AT HOLEY INTXN. WE CERTAINLY EXPECTED IT AND WHEN WE DIDN'T WE DID GET A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS. THAT'S WHEN THE CAPT ASKED ABOUT THE FREQ SWITCH.

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.