Narrative:

ATC gave us a late descent to cross hayed at FL180. We began a descent at 5100 FPM; well in excess of the standard 2000 FPM on a normal descent. We started this at FL370. During the descent; ATC told us to cross hayed at FL180 and 250 KTS. I told the controller we could do either speed or altitude; but not both. The controller started arguing with me and told me we could do both. I again told him we could not; and his choice was airspeed or altitude. Then the controller started questioning other flts to see if they had any problem making the descent. He asked aircraft Y at FL330; will you have any problem making the descent? Aircraft Y replied no. Aircraft Y was also 4000 ft lower than us when they began their descent. Then the controller came back and told us aircraft Y and other aircraft could make the descent; why could we not? Never in 20+ yrs of flying have I had a controller behave in such a manner. This was extremely disruptive to the safety of the flight. The controller then vectored us off course; turned us back; then stated; 'it looks like you can make your descent after all.' well; after the vector; yes we could! Since when does a controller attempt to fly the airplane? Since when does a controller actually create and contribute to the unsafe conduct of a flight? Where is any modicum of professionalism from this controller?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 PLT DESCRIBED FAILURE TO MEET ATC ALT/SPEED RESTRICTION ON DESCENT; ALLEGING CTLR UNPROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE AND HANDLING.

Narrative: ATC GAVE US A LATE DSCNT TO CROSS HAYED AT FL180. WE BEGAN A DSCNT AT 5100 FPM; WELL IN EXCESS OF THE STANDARD 2000 FPM ON A NORMAL DSCNT. WE STARTED THIS AT FL370. DURING THE DSCNT; ATC TOLD US TO CROSS HAYED AT FL180 AND 250 KTS. I TOLD THE CTLR WE COULD DO EITHER SPD OR ALT; BUT NOT BOTH. THE CTLR STARTED ARGUING WITH ME AND TOLD ME WE COULD DO BOTH. I AGAIN TOLD HIM WE COULD NOT; AND HIS CHOICE WAS AIRSPD OR ALT. THEN THE CTLR STARTED QUESTIONING OTHER FLTS TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY PROB MAKING THE DSCNT. HE ASKED ACFT Y AT FL330; WILL YOU HAVE ANY PROB MAKING THE DSCNT? ACFT Y REPLIED NO. ACFT Y WAS ALSO 4000 FT LOWER THAN US WHEN THEY BEGAN THEIR DSCNT. THEN THE CTLR CAME BACK AND TOLD US ACFT Y AND OTHER ACFT COULD MAKE THE DSCNT; WHY COULD WE NOT? NEVER IN 20+ YRS OF FLYING HAVE I HAD A CTLR BEHAVE IN SUCH A MANNER. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DISRUPTIVE TO THE SAFETY OF THE FLT. THE CTLR THEN VECTORED US OFF COURSE; TURNED US BACK; THEN STATED; 'IT LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DSCNT AFTER ALL.' WELL; AFTER THE VECTOR; YES WE COULD! SINCE WHEN DOES A CTLR ATTEMPT TO FLY THE AIRPLANE? SINCE WHEN DOES A CTLR ACTUALLY CREATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE UNSAFE CONDUCT OF A FLT? WHERE IS ANY MODICUM OF PROFESSIONALISM FROM THIS CTLR?

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.