Air carrier captain missed crossing restriction and altitude assignment; alleging both altitude and ...

Attributes
ACN	825614
Time
Date	200902
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	LGA.Airport
State Reference	NY
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	STAR KORRY
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 210 Flight Crew Total 12000 Flight Crew Type 5000
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Other Phraseology Standard

Narrative:

Our last ZDC controller cleared us to FL250. We were coming up on ridgy intersection on the korry 3 arrival to lga. The crossing altitude for ridgy is FL270; but ATC does take us below and stops us above these altitudes; at times. We both heard the assigned altitude of FL250. When I checked on with ZNY; I gave the controller our assigned speed of 250 KTS and FL250. I even said 'FL250' with emphasis since it was below the FL270 altitude for ridgy and we were short of ridgy. The controller did not correct our altitude or question it on my check-on. However; shortly after check-on; the controller asked what our altitude was and I told controller FL250. The controller asked who assigned us that altitude; and I said that it was our last ZDC controller and I reminded the controller I had checked on with FL250. The controller said that I had only checked on with my airspeed of 250 KTS. A proper check-in includes altitude and we both know that I did check in with both our assigned speed of 250 KTS and FL250. Many years ago the FAA took responsibility away from controllers for making sure that pilots give the correct altimeter settings; altitudes; etc.; and made it a pilot responsibility only. That greatly reduces our safety margin and I really do believe that this needs to be a joint responsibility once again! Since the controllers no longer share responsibility; they don't listen to what we say when we check in!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Captain missed crossing restriction and altitude assignment; alleging both altitude and airspeed information was relayed to the Controller appropriately.

Narrative: Our last ZDC Controller cleared us to FL250. We were coming up on RIDGY Intersection on the KORRY 3 arrival to LGA. The crossing altitude for RIDGY is FL270; but ATC does take us below and stops us above these altitudes; at times. We both heard the assigned altitude of FL250. When I checked on with ZNY; I gave the Controller our assigned speed of 250 KTS and FL250. I even said 'FL250' with emphasis since it was below the FL270 altitude for RIDGY and we were short of RIDGY. The Controller did not correct our altitude or question it on my check-on. However; shortly after check-on; the Controller asked what our altitude was and I told Controller FL250. The Controller asked who assigned us that altitude; and I said that it was our last ZDC Controller and I reminded the Controller I had checked on with FL250. The Controller said that I had only checked on with my airspeed of 250 KTS. A proper check-in includes altitude and we both know that I did check in with both our assigned speed of 250 KTS and FL250. Many years ago the FAA took responsibility away from Controllers for making sure that pilots give the correct altimeter settings; altitudes; etc.; and made it a pilot responsibility ONLY. That greatly reduces our safety margin and I really do believe that this needs to be a joint responsibility once again! Since the controllers no longer share responsibility; they don't listen to what we say when we check in!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Air carrier captain missed crossing restriction and altitude assignment; alleging both altitude and airspeed information was relayed to the controller appropriately.