Unprofessional and threatening remark by controller regarding crossing restr disturbs B777 crew.

Attributes
ACN	591649
Time
Date	200308
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : swl.vortac
State Reference	MD
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	591649
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

While inbound to swl VOR at FL390, center cleared us to descend. Since we were so far out from destination, we asked for and were granted clearance to remain at FL390 for a while longer. Later, washington cleared us to cross 50 NM south of swl at FL310, which I copied down onto my side-board and read back as 'cross 50 mi south of snow hill at FL310.' we commenced the descent using vertical speed referenced to the descent rate on the navigation 'descent' page for a smooth descent. Approximately 20 mi from swl, ZDC asked us if we were going to make our restr, which we would have easily made. When he advised us that he thought he had given us a restr of 50 NM north of swl at FL310, we told him that we had copied down and read back to cross 50 NM south of swl at FL310, then he said something to the effect of 'if you want to play games, then I'll pull the tape. Descend to FL310.' we were all appalled at this controller's lack of professionalism and one-upsmanship. We complied with the clearance to descend to FL310 and heard no more about the incident from any other ATC facility. My feeling is that this controller is totally unprofessional and must have some sort of hidden agenda, and that he should at least be spoken to about his attitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNPROFESSIONAL AND THREATENING REMARK BY CTLR REGARDING XING RESTR DISTURBS B777 CREW.

Narrative: WHILE INBOUND TO SWL VOR AT FL390, CTR CLRED US TO DSND. SINCE WE WERE SO FAR OUT FROM DEST, WE ASKED FOR AND WERE GRANTED CLRNC TO REMAIN AT FL390 FOR A WHILE LONGER. LATER, WASHINGTON CLRED US TO CROSS 50 NM S OF SWL AT FL310, WHICH I COPIED DOWN ONTO MY SIDE-BOARD AND READ BACK AS 'CROSS 50 MI S OF SNOW HILL AT FL310.' WE COMMENCED THE DSCNT USING VERT SPD REFED TO THE DSCNT RATE ON THE NAV 'DSCNT' PAGE FOR A SMOOTH DSCNT. APPROX 20 MI FROM SWL, ZDC ASKED US IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE OUR RESTR, WHICH WE WOULD HAVE EASILY MADE. WHEN HE ADVISED US THAT HE THOUGHT HE HAD GIVEN US A RESTR OF 50 NM N OF SWL AT FL310, WE TOLD HIM THAT WE HAD COPIED DOWN AND READ BACK TO CROSS 50 NM S OF SWL AT FL310, THEN HE SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF 'IF YOU WANT TO PLAY GAMES, THEN I'LL PULL THE TAPE. DSND TO FL310.' WE WERE ALL APPALLED AT THIS CTLR'S LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM AND ONE-UPSMANSHIP. WE COMPLIED WITH THE CLRNC TO DSND TO FL310 AND HEARD NO MORE ABOUT THE INCIDENT FROM ANY OTHER ATC FACILITY. MY FEELING IS THAT THIS CTLR IS TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL AND MUST HAVE SOME SORT OF HIDDEN AGENDA, AND THAT HE SHOULD AT LEAST BE SPOKEN TO ABOUT HIS ATTITUDE.

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.