Narrative:

On skebr arrival to las handoff to approach control from ZLA approaching clarr at 250 KTS and 13000 ft MSL approach gave us numerous altitude and airspeed restrs not corresponding to the listed restrs. The first was to slow to 230 KTS somewhere past skebr then a descent to 10000 ft inbound to kepec. Passing 11000 ft the controller asked us if we were going to stop at 11000 ft. We responded with the clearance we were given, 230 KTS and 10000 ft. He told us to maintain 11000 ft. We were aware of our position in respect to the mountainous terrain and could see them against the city lights. However, we were still a little concerned with the altitude since it differed from the listed restrs. We were then continually given conflicting altitude and airspeed restrs for the remainder of the time on this frequency, ie, 230 KTS and 8000 ft prior to povac. The next approach controller also gave us conflicting airspeed and altitude restrs. We checked on with 210 KTS and 8000 ft. He gave us a descent to 7500 ft. Mins later while approaching kimme at 210 KTS and 7500 ft he told us once we slowed to descend to 6500 ft. He never gave us a different speed. Once you receive something other than what is listed you are technically off the arrival and must continue with your last assignment. So we asked him what airspeed he would like, 190 KTS? He then said yes. We continued to runway 25L via a visual approach followed with an uneventful landing. The controllers were both guilty of over-controling aircraft by issuing different restrs than listed and assuming way too much as to 'do you want me to follow the arrival now or wait till later.' again, once you receive a clearance other than what is listed on the arrival you are off it and must follow the last assignment. They assume way too much on the RNAV arrs into las and it is going to bite someone in the butt!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW ARR AT LAS IS FRUSTRATED WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS THAT DIFFERED FROM THE STAR RESTRS.

Narrative: ON SKEBR ARR TO LAS HDOF TO APCH CTL FROM ZLA APCHING CLARR AT 250 KTS AND 13000 FT MSL APCH GAVE US NUMEROUS ALT AND AIRSPD RESTRS NOT CORRESPONDING TO THE LISTED RESTRS. THE FIRST WAS TO SLOW TO 230 KTS SOMEWHERE PAST SKEBR THEN A DSCNT TO 10000 FT INBOUND TO KEPEC. PASSING 11000 FT THE CTLR ASKED US IF WE WERE GOING TO STOP AT 11000 FT. WE RESPONDED WITH THE CLRNC WE WERE GIVEN, 230 KTS AND 10000 FT. HE TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 11000 FT. WE WERE AWARE OF OUR POS IN RESPECT TO THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND COULD SEE THEM AGAINST THE CITY LIGHTS. HOWEVER, WE WERE STILL A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH THE ALT SINCE IT DIFFERED FROM THE LISTED RESTRS. WE WERE THEN CONTINUALLY GIVEN CONFLICTING ALT AND AIRSPD RESTRS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME ON THIS FREQ, IE, 230 KTS AND 8000 FT PRIOR TO POVAC. THE NEXT APCH CTLR ALSO GAVE US CONFLICTING AIRSPD AND ALT RESTRS. WE CHKED ON WITH 210 KTS AND 8000 FT. HE GAVE US A DSCNT TO 7500 FT. MINS LATER WHILE APCHING KIMME AT 210 KTS AND 7500 FT HE TOLD US ONCE WE SLOWED TO DSND TO 6500 FT. HE NEVER GAVE US A DIFFERENT SPD. ONCE YOU RECEIVE SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT IS LISTED YOU ARE TECHNICALLY OFF THE ARR AND MUST CONTINUE WITH YOUR LAST ASSIGNMENT. SO WE ASKED HIM WHAT AIRSPD HE WOULD LIKE, 190 KTS? HE THEN SAID YES. WE CONTINUED TO RWY 25L VIA A VISUAL APCH FOLLOWED WITH AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG. THE CTLRS WERE BOTH GUILTY OF OVER-CTLING ACFT BY ISSUING DIFFERENT RESTRS THAN LISTED AND ASSUMING WAY TOO MUCH AS TO 'DO YOU WANT ME TO FOLLOW THE ARR NOW OR WAIT TILL LATER.' AGAIN, ONCE YOU RECEIVE A CLRNC OTHER THAN WHAT IS LISTED ON THE ARR YOU ARE OFF IT AND MUST FOLLOW THE LAST ASSIGNMENT. THEY ASSUME WAY TOO MUCH ON THE RNAV ARRS INTO LAS AND IT IS GOING TO BITE SOMEONE IN THE BUTT!

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.