D01 controller and carj PIC exchange words over intent and expectation of control instructions.

Attributes
ACN	456125
Time
Date	199911
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Challenger CL604
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival star : dandd
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 5750 flight time type : 550
ASRS Report	456125
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We (aircraft X) were assigned 250 KTS or greater from dandd, the arrival fix that is normally 250 KTS. The controller was irritable from check on. As we continued, he got worse with his snide comments and tone. As we got on a high left downwind, 11000 ft, we were told to descend to 8000 ft. As we started the descent, the first officer started to slow. I called the runway in sight, at which he responded 'continue!' immediately followed by 'say speed.' (so here we are descending from 11000 ft to 8000 ft on a 350 degree heading about 2 1/2 mi east of runway 17R.) I say '220.' he says 'you were assigned 250, next time ask before you slow!' to which I reply, 'ok I guess we will pick it up.' he replied 'cleared for the visual, contact tower.' we were the only airplane other than someone else at dandd behind us. If we kept 250 KTS at that altitude we would have gone 7 mi north before slow enough to get any flaps out in our descent. If the controller had a problem he should not have took it out on us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: D01 CTLR AND CARJ PIC EXCHANGE WORDS OVER INTENT AND EXPECTATION OF CTL INSTRUCTIONS.

Narrative: WE (ACFT X) WERE ASSIGNED 250 KTS OR GREATER FROM DANDD, THE ARR FIX THAT IS NORMALLY 250 KTS. THE CTLR WAS IRRITABLE FROM CHK ON. AS WE CONTINUED, HE GOT WORSE WITH HIS SNIDE COMMENTS AND TONE. AS WE GOT ON A HIGH L DOWNWIND, 11000 FT, WE WERE TOLD TO DSND TO 8000 FT. AS WE STARTED THE DSCNT, THE FO STARTED TO SLOW. I CALLED THE RWY IN SIGHT, AT WHICH HE RESPONDED 'CONTINUE!' IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY 'SAY SPD.' (SO HERE WE ARE DSNDING FROM 11000 FT TO 8000 FT ON A 350 DEG HDG ABOUT 2 1/2 MI E OF RWY 17R.) I SAY '220.' HE SAYS 'YOU WERE ASSIGNED 250, NEXT TIME ASK BEFORE YOU SLOW!' TO WHICH I REPLY, 'OK I GUESS WE WILL PICK IT UP.' HE REPLIED 'CLRED FOR THE VISUAL, CONTACT TWR.' WE WERE THE ONLY AIRPLANE OTHER THAN SOMEONE ELSE AT DANDD BEHIND US. IF WE KEPT 250 KTS AT THAT ALT WE WOULD HAVE GONE 7 MI N BEFORE SLOW ENOUGH TO GET ANY FLAPS OUT IN OUR DSCNT. IF THE CTLR HAD A PROB HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TOOK IT OUT ON US.

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.