CL65 flight crew arriving atl was instructed to 'fly the FLCON3' by ATC. They began descent to the f...

Attributes
ACN	871727
Time
Date	201001
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ATL.Airport
State Reference	GA
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR FLCON
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 7000 Flight Crew Type 6000
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Narrative:

On the falcon arrival to atlanta; center instructed us to 'fly the falcon arrival.' we understood that to mean to comply with the altitudes and speeds on the arrival. As soon as we began a descent to cross dirty intersection at 14000 ft; center asked what our altitude was. We explained what we were doing. He said that if that is what he wanted he would have said to descend via the falcon arrival. He gave us a lower altitude and said it was not a big deal. We were ultimately confused with the phraseology of 'fly the arrival'. Since we were already on the arrival; it made sense that this meant to comply with the altitudes and speeds. To avoid this in the future query ATC if there is any chance of a misunderstanding.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL65 flight crew arriving ATL was instructed to 'fly the FLCON3' by ATC. They began descent to the first crossing restriction. ATC advised that a 'descend via' or a specific altitude assignment is required before commencing descent.

Narrative: On the Falcon arrival to Atlanta; Center instructed us to 'fly the Falcon arrival.' We understood that to mean to comply with the altitudes and speeds on the arrival. As soon as we began a descent to cross DIRTY intersection at 14000 FT; Center asked what our altitude was. We explained what we were doing. He said that if that is what he wanted he would have said to descend via the Falcon arrival. He gave us a lower altitude and said it was not a big deal. We were ultimately confused with the phraseology of 'fly the arrival'. Since we were already on the arrival; it made sense that this meant to comply with the altitudes and speeds. To avoid this in the future query ATC if there is any chance of a misunderstanding.

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.

CL65 flight crew arriving atl was instructed to 'fly the FLCON3' by ATC. They began descent to the first crossing restriction. ATC advised that a 'descend via' or a specific altitude assignment is required before commencing descent.