Narrative:

New procedures to aircraft landing phoenix are confusing to pilots and cumbersome for controllers. The new RNAV arrs from the northwest and northeast of phx are using the 'descend via' phraseology. However only one arrival can use it at a time while the other arrival must be issued 'descend via the maier arrival; except after brusr maintain 120.' almost every clearance must be reissued because the pilots are confused or read back the wrong clearance. The phraseology by the controller is being mandated by management at ZAB and phx approach even though simpler and clearer phraseology such as 'cross brusr at 120' is available to use and is legal. This ties the controller's hands as to how he runs his sector and causes so many readback errors and extra clrncs that an operational error caused by this new procedure is bound to occur soon.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAB CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE RNAV PROCS INTO PHX AND THE MANDATED PHRASEOLOGY AND PROCS USED FOR THESE ARRS.

Narrative: NEW PROCS TO ACFT LNDG PHOENIX ARE CONFUSING TO PLTS AND CUMBERSOME FOR CTLRS. THE NEW RNAV ARRS FROM THE NW AND NE OF PHX ARE USING THE 'DSND VIA' PHRASEOLOGY. HOWEVER ONLY ONE ARR CAN USE IT AT A TIME WHILE THE OTHER ARR MUST BE ISSUED 'DSND VIA THE MAIER ARR; EXCEPT AFTER BRUSR MAINTAIN 120.' ALMOST EVERY CLRNC MUST BE REISSUED BECAUSE THE PLTS ARE CONFUSED OR READ BACK THE WRONG CLRNC. THE PHRASEOLOGY BY THE CTLR IS BEING MANDATED BY MGMNT AT ZAB AND PHX APCH EVEN THOUGH SIMPLER AND CLEARER PHRASEOLOGY SUCH AS 'CROSS BRUSR AT 120' IS AVAILABLE TO USE AND IS LEGAL. THIS TIES THE CTLR'S HANDS AS TO HOW HE RUNS HIS SECTOR AND CAUSES SO MANY READBACK ERRORS AND EXTRA CLRNCS THAT AN OPERROR CAUSED BY THIS NEW PROC IS BOUND TO OCCUR SOON.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.