MD80 crew had a delay on descent after being cleared in ZTL class a.

Attributes
ACN	490190
Time
Date	200010
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : atl.vortac
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc tower : ewr.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : macey 2
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 4600 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	490190
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on the macey two arrival into atlanta we were at FL310. The controller cleared us to FL240. After plugging the information into the FMS I noticed that the plane did not respond to the FMS inputs and did not begin the descent. We began the descent when we realized this, which was about 2-3 mins after receiving clearance to FL240. We were not queried by the controller and there were no traffic conflicts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW HAD A DELAY ON DSCNT AFTER BEING CLRED IN ZTL CLASS A.

Narrative: WHILE ON THE MACEY TWO ARR INTO ATLANTA WE WERE AT FL310. THE CTLR CLRED US TO FL240. AFTER PLUGGING THE INFO INTO THE FMS I NOTICED THAT THE PLANE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE FMS INPUTS AND DID NOT BEGIN THE DSCNT. WE BEGAN THE DSCNT WHEN WE REALIZED THIS, WHICH WAS ABOUT 2-3 MINS AFTER RECEIVING CLRNC TO FL240. WE WERE NOT QUERIED BY THE CTLR AND THERE WERE NO TFC CONFLICTS.

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.