Harsh words delivered from ARTCC to an air carrier crew.

Attributes
ACN	477600
Time
Date	200006
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : rdu.vor
State Reference	NS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm Rain Turbulence
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 224 flight time total : 5700 flight time type : 224
ASRS Report	477600
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 9175 flight time type : 2175
ASRS Report	477126
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : turbulence inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

ATC controller gave a clearance for us to 'descend from FL330 to FL290.' no mention was made to expedite. Our reply was 'is it smooth at FL290?' the controller responded 'I don't have time to tell you, descend for traffic.' we proceeded to then 'descend' to FL290 at 2000 FPM. Problem: communication/courtesy between controller and pilots. Factors: high workload on controller, thunderstorms, deviating aircraft (tense airspace situation). Supplemental information from acn 477126: since there were numerous thunderstorms in the area, we asked him for a ride report as we initiated the descent. We continued to comply with the clearance he gave us, but why he got so upset, so quickly, was unknown.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HARSH WORDS DELIVERED FROM ARTCC TO AN ACR CREW.

Narrative: ATC CTLR GAVE A CLRNC FOR US TO 'DSND FROM FL330 TO FL290.' NO MENTION WAS MADE TO EXPEDITE. OUR REPLY WAS 'IS IT SMOOTH AT FL290?' THE CTLR RESPONDED 'I DON'T HAVE TIME TO TELL YOU, DSND FOR TFC.' WE PROCEEDED TO THEN 'DSND' TO FL290 AT 2000 FPM. PROB: COM/COURTESY BTWN CTLR AND PLTS. FACTORS: HIGH WORKLOAD ON CTLR, TSTMS, DEVIATING ACFT (TENSE AIRSPACE SIT). SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 477126: SINCE THERE WERE NUMEROUS TSTMS IN THE AREA, WE ASKED HIM FOR A RIDE RPT AS WE INITIATED THE DSCNT. WE CONTINUED TO COMPLY WITH THE CLRNC HE GAVE US, BUT WHY HE GOT SO UPSET, SO QUICKLY, WAS UNKNOWN.

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.