Narrative:

Given a descent to 7000 ft by approach. At 8400 ft, approach control calls to say level off at 8000 ft. We were descending at 2000 FPM and by the time we acknowledged the call, set the autoplt, and leveled off, we were at 7600 ft and I started a shallow climb back to 8000 ft. Approach saw that we were at 7600 ft and commented on it. We both thought he said cleared to descend to 7000 ft. The first officer read that back and we continued the descent to 7000 ft. When we arrived at 7000 ft, the controller questioned us on the altitude. We told him that he issued us clearance to 7000 ft but he disagreed. He said he told us that we could descend to 7000 ft after we were clear of traffic. Non standard communication caused confusion. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states that it was nassau approach that gave the confusing series of clrncs. He states that the original clearance was to level off and that with the descent rate in progress, the leveloff occurred at 7600 ft. At that time the flight crew began a slow climb back to 8000 ft. The controller noted the 7600 ft and the confusion that followed was one of unclr language usage and too many xmissions that served only to further confuse the situation. The traffic in question was observed on TCASII but no TA or RA resulted. The purpose of the report was to try and standardize future clrncs in order that a more hazardous situation not be incurred.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL65 RECEIVES LATE, NON STANDARD AND CONFUSING CLRNCS FROM NASSAU APCH CTLR.

Narrative: GIVEN A DSCNT TO 7000 FT BY APCH. AT 8400 FT, APCH CTL CALLS TO SAY LEVEL OFF AT 8000 FT. WE WERE DSNDING AT 2000 FPM AND BY THE TIME WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE CALL, SET THE AUTOPLT, AND LEVELED OFF, WE WERE AT 7600 FT AND I STARTED A SHALLOW CLB BACK TO 8000 FT. APCH SAW THAT WE WERE AT 7600 FT AND COMMENTED ON IT. WE BOTH THOUGHT HE SAID CLRED TO DSND TO 7000 FT. THE FO READ THAT BACK AND WE CONTINUED THE DSCNT TO 7000 FT. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT 7000 FT, THE CTLR QUESTIONED US ON THE ALT. WE TOLD HIM THAT HE ISSUED US CLRNC TO 7000 FT BUT HE DISAGREED. HE SAID HE TOLD US THAT WE COULD DSND TO 7000 FT AFTER WE WERE CLR OF TFC. NON STANDARD COM CAUSED CONFUSION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT IT WAS NASSAU APCH THAT GAVE THE CONFUSING SERIES OF CLRNCS. HE STATES THAT THE ORIGINAL CLRNC WAS TO LEVEL OFF AND THAT WITH THE DSCNT RATE IN PROGRESS, THE LEVELOFF OCCURRED AT 7600 FT. AT THAT TIME THE FLC BEGAN A SLOW CLB BACK TO 8000 FT. THE CTLR NOTED THE 7600 FT AND THE CONFUSION THAT FOLLOWED WAS ONE OF UNCLR LANGUAGE USAGE AND TOO MANY XMISSIONS THAT SERVED ONLY TO FURTHER CONFUSE THE SIT. THE TFC IN QUESTION WAS OBSERVED ON TCASII BUT NO TA OR RA RESULTED. THE PURPOSE OF THE RPT WAS TO TRY AND STANDARDIZE FUTURE CLRNCS IN ORDER THAT A MORE HAZARDOUS SIT NOT BE INCURRED.

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.