Clearance confusion during a new york area arrival.

Attributes
ACN	489194
Time
Date	200010
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	ATR 42
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : v3.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 850
ASRS Report	489194
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Just after passing over hfd VOR, we checked on with ny approach who told us to proceed direct, bridgeport VOR, which we did. I read these instructions back to ATC and verified them with my first officer. 8.0 mi from bridgeport VOR, we were asked our heading. I replied that our heading was 235 degrees, and the controller stated that that was wrong, as we were to be proceeding direct cmk (carmel). I responded that we had been cleared to bridgeport, which the controller denied and immediately cleared us direct cmk. I am 100% sure that a review of ATC tapes would reveal that we indeed had been cleared direct to bridgeport. At the time, I thought this clearance a little odd, as bdr (bridgeport VOR) was not on our original flight plan. However, ZNY routinely issues heading changes, vectors, and off course routings for separation purposes in the nyc area, so I did not question this particular clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLRNC CONFUSION DURING A NEW YORK AREA ARR.

Narrative: JUST AFTER PASSING OVER HFD VOR, WE CHKED ON WITH NY APCH WHO TOLD US TO PROCEED DIRECT, BRIDGEPORT VOR, WHICH WE DID. I READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BACK TO ATC AND VERIFIED THEM WITH MY FO. 8.0 MI FROM BRIDGEPORT VOR, WE WERE ASKED OUR HEADING. I REPLIED THAT OUR HEADING WAS 235 DEGS, AND THE CTLR STATED THAT THAT WAS WRONG, AS WE WERE TO BE PROCEEDING DIRECT CMK (CARMEL). I RESPONDED THAT WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO BRIDGEPORT, WHICH THE CTLR DENIED AND IMMEDIATELY CLRED US DIRECT CMK. I AM 100% SURE THAT A REVIEW OF ATC TAPES WOULD REVEAL THAT WE INDEED HAD BEEN CLRED DIRECT TO BRIDGEPORT. AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT THIS CLRNC A LITTLE ODD, AS BDR (BRIDGEPORT VOR) WAS NOT ON OUR ORIGINAL FLT PLAN. HOWEVER, ZNY ROUTINELY ISSUES HEADING CHANGES, VECTORS, AND OFF COURSE ROUTINGS FOR SEPARATION PURPOSES IN THE NYC AREA, SO I DID NOT QUESTION THIS PARTICULAR CLRNC.

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.