Narrative:

Was cleared to descend at wakem intersection on the wakem 2 arrival (cle) as per my flight plan it was also my clearance limit. 10 mi northwest of elija and passing through FL180, center cleared me to wakem. I read back cleared direct to wakem (2 times) with no response. I then proceeded direct to wakem intersection. Upon doing so, got a tongue lashing from the center. I was never near another aircraft. There was not one around. I feel that the FAA used language that was a set-up to fail. When they clear us to an intersection that is what it means.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG CREW FOLLOWED THEIR CLRNC TO GO DIRECT TO WAKEM, ONLY TO BE CHASTISED BY THE CTLR.

Narrative: WAS CLRED TO DSND AT WAKEM INTXN ON THE WAKEM 2 ARR (CLE) AS PER MY FLT PLAN IT WAS ALSO MY CLRNC LIMIT. 10 MI NW OF ELIJA AND PASSING THROUGH FL180, CTR CLRED ME TO WAKEM. I READ BACK CLRED DIRECT TO WAKEM (2 TIMES) WITH NO RESPONSE. I THEN PROCEEDED DIRECT TO WAKEM INTXN. UPON DOING SO, GOT A TONGUE LASHING FROM THE CTR. I WAS NEVER NEAR ANOTHER ACFT. THERE WAS NOT ONE AROUND. I FEEL THAT THE FAA USED LANGUAGE THAT WAS A SET-UP TO FAIL. WHEN THEY CLR US TO AN INTXN THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS.

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.