Narrative:

Though no foul was committed, this incident involves one of the newer 'descend via' clrncs. Coming into sea on arrival from the south, center controller had us slow to 250 KTS at altitude. This is normal for sea. Next, we were cleared to 'descend via' on olm arrival, landing south. We put the crossing restr of 16000 ft in altitude alerter. This is on the plate and is not verbalized by the controller. The controller wanted to give us less of a turn for more spacing. I suggested a right turn as convective activity was to our left (west). He said fine. Also, the controller gave us 17000 ft while on heading. We then got a turn back to the left for clearance back to the arrival, got direct olm -- olm arrival. I said, 'ok, we're back on or back by the arrival.' I did not use the term 'descend via.' the controller said yes, we were back to olm arrival. We put in 16000 ft as initial clearance dictated. As we neared 17000 ft, the controller gave us 'descend via' clearance again. I thought we were already on it by my 'we're back on or by the arrival' comment. First officer indeed said we had been cleared again by 'descend via' term. I missed that. All in all, I need to watch my terminology on these approachs.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC RECEIVE VECTORS OFF STAR BY ZSE CTLR. WHEN CTLR CLRS THE ACR BACK TO THE STAR, PLT UTILIZES SAME PHRASEOLOGY THAT CTLR USES, AND ASSUMES THAT THE CLRNC ALSO INCLUDES PREVIOUS 'DSND VIA.' APCHING THE STAR ROUTING, THE CTLR REISSUES 'DSND VIA' CAUSING QUESTION WITHIN THE COCKPIT AS TO WHAT CLRNC WAS ACCEPTED OR MEANT.

Narrative: THOUGH NO FOUL WAS COMMITTED, THIS INCIDENT INVOLVES ONE OF THE NEWER 'DSND VIA' CLRNCS. COMING INTO SEA ON ARR FROM THE S, CTR CTLR HAD US SLOW TO 250 KTS AT ALT. THIS IS NORMAL FOR SEA. NEXT, WE WERE CLRED TO 'DSND VIA' ON OLM ARR, LNDG S. WE PUT THE XING RESTR OF 16000 FT IN ALT ALERTER. THIS IS ON THE PLATE AND IS NOT VERBALIZED BY THE CTLR. THE CTLR WANTED TO GIVE US LESS OF A TURN FOR MORE SPACING. I SUGGESTED A R TURN AS CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WAS TO OUR L (W). HE SAID FINE. ALSO, THE CTLR GAVE US 17000 FT WHILE ON HDG. WE THEN GOT A TURN BACK TO THE L FOR CLRNC BACK TO THE ARR, GOT DIRECT OLM -- OLM ARR. I SAID, 'OK, WE'RE BACK ON OR BACK BY THE ARR.' I DID NOT USE THE TERM 'DSND VIA.' THE CTLR SAID YES, WE WERE BACK TO OLM ARR. WE PUT IN 16000 FT AS INITIAL CLRNC DICTATED. AS WE NEARED 17000 FT, THE CTLR GAVE US 'DSND VIA' CLRNC AGAIN. I THOUGHT WE WERE ALREADY ON IT BY MY 'WE'RE BACK ON OR BY THE ARR' COMMENT. FO INDEED SAID WE HAD BEEN CLRED AGAIN BY 'DSND VIA' TERM. I MISSED THAT. ALL IN ALL, I NEED TO WATCH MY TERMINOLOGY ON THESE APCHS.

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.