Narrative:

Departed tupelo, ms. Climbed to FL270 with passenger for a 2-2.5 hour flight of 530 NM. Approximately 110 NM into flight, controller issued a descent to FL230. Started descent and requested FL250, or FL290, FL310 due to fuel usage. Was informed unable FL250 and that they didn't want to handle me at FL290 or FL310. Stated that the prolonged flight at FL230 would exhaust fuel and put me into a minimum fuel status. Was informed that I could remain at FL270 if I would accept a vector that would take me 100 NM out of my way or comply with the descent. I declined the vector and continued the descent to FL230. Around FL245 I was asked if I could be at FL230 in 2 mins. My passenger had complained about the descent hurting their ears, so I replied that I didn't think so. Controller issued me a 115 degree turn to the left for the remainder of my descent. Started the turn and remarked that 'I guess you are really going to mess with me.' controller got very angry and repeated the clearance and made a small verbal barrage at me. At FL235 was told to proceed on course when I had reached FL230. During this whole time, I complied with all assigned headings and altitude assignments. I feel that the controller was very curt, uncooperative, non-informative, and verbally abrasive during our communication exchanges. I believe that she set the tone for our entire period together. I regret that I made that remark, but I felt that she was punishing me with an excessive heading change. I don't believe that she has any idea of the operational capabilities and requirements of a cheyenne III turboprop aircraft. I burned an unnecessary extra 900-1100 pounds of fuel with that altitude assignment and landed with barely legal IFR fuel reserves. Prior to handing me over to the next controller, I was given a phone number to call immediately upon landing. I requested the controller's initials, and contacted the next sector. Called FAA number upon landing and explained the situation with the supervisor on duty. Again, I regret making the remark, but I feel that it was both accurate in scope and tone of the situation. I am requesting both voice and ntap tapes of this whole episode. I do not feel that in any way was safety compromised by my actions, rather by the controllers stonewalling and rigid stance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PAY2 ENRTE THROUGH ZME AIRSPACE IS CONCERNED WITH FUEL RESERVES AND MAKES INAPPROPRIATE COMMENT TO ATC.

Narrative: DEPARTED TUPELO, MS. CLBED TO FL270 WITH PAX FOR A 2-2.5 HR FLT OF 530 NM. APPROX 110 NM INTO FLT, CTLR ISSUED A DSCNT TO FL230. STARTED DSCNT AND REQUESTED FL250, OR FL290, FL310 DUE TO FUEL USAGE. WAS INFORMED UNABLE FL250 AND THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HANDLE ME AT FL290 OR FL310. STATED THAT THE PROLONGED FLT AT FL230 WOULD EXHAUST FUEL AND PUT ME INTO A MINIMUM FUEL STATUS. WAS INFORMED THAT I COULD REMAIN AT FL270 IF I WOULD ACCEPT A VECTOR THAT WOULD TAKE ME 100 NM OUT OF MY WAY OR COMPLY WITH THE DSCNT. I DECLINED THE VECTOR AND CONTINUED THE DSCNT TO FL230. AROUND FL245 I WAS ASKED IF I COULD BE AT FL230 IN 2 MINS. MY PAX HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DSCNT HURTING THEIR EARS, SO I REPLIED THAT I DIDN'T THINK SO. CTLR ISSUED ME A 115 DEG TURN TO THE L FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY DSCNT. STARTED THE TURN AND REMARKED THAT 'I GUESS YOU ARE REALLY GOING TO MESS WITH ME.' CTLR GOT VERY ANGRY AND REPEATED THE CLRNC AND MADE A SMALL VERBAL BARRAGE AT ME. AT FL235 WAS TOLD TO PROCEED ON COURSE WHEN I HAD REACHED FL230. DURING THIS WHOLE TIME, I COMPLIED WITH ALL ASSIGNED HEADINGS AND ALT ASSIGNMENTS. I FEEL THAT THE CTLR WAS VERY CURT, UNCOOPERATIVE, NON-INFORMATIVE, AND VERBALLY ABRASIVE DURING OUR COM EXCHANGES. I BELIEVE THAT SHE SET THE TONE FOR OUR ENTIRE PERIOD TOGETHER. I REGRET THAT I MADE THAT REMARK, BUT I FELT THAT SHE WAS PUNISHING ME WITH AN EXCESSIVE HEADING CHANGE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SHE HAS ANY IDEA OF THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES AND REQUIREMENTS OF A CHEYENNE III TURBOPROP ACFT. I BURNED AN UNNECESSARY EXTRA 900-1100 LBS OF FUEL WITH THAT ALT ASSIGNMENT AND LANDED WITH BARELY LEGAL IFR FUEL RESERVES. PRIOR TO HANDING ME OVER TO THE NEXT CTLR, I WAS GIVEN A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL IMMEDIATELY UPON LNDG. I REQUESTED THE CTLR'S INITIALS, AND CONTACTED THE NEXT SECTOR. CALLED FAA NUMBER UPON LNDG AND EXPLAINED THE SIT WITH THE SUPVR ON DUTY. AGAIN, I REGRET MAKING THE REMARK, BUT I FEEL THAT IT WAS BOTH ACCURATE IN SCOPE AND TONE OF THE SIT. I AM REQUESTING BOTH VOICE AND NTAP TAPES OF THIS WHOLE EPISODE. I DO NOT FEEL THAT IN ANY WAY WAS SAFETY COMPROMISED BY MY ACTIONS, RATHER BY THE CTLRS STONEWALLING AND RIGID STANCE.

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.