Narrative:

Upon decent into eddf; the controller never did give us an expected STAR arrival. The flight plan filed did not have an expected STAR arrival either. We inserted osmax 2W into the arrival page. Frankfurt's langen radar north controller asked us to fly direct to osmax and expect the ILS 25L for landing. At no point did he advise us of the arrival STAR or the transition to ILS 25L. If you look at the amount of transitions to each runway in eddf they are numerous and as a result need to be told to the pilots. Below is the reason eddf needs to advise pilot's of the STAR and the transition to each runway. Subsequently; he cleared us to a fix we had no idea what he was talking about. When we said we did not know what that fix was; he then gave us a heading. Captain decided to find the fix and located it on the osmax 25 transition to ILS runway 25L. If the eddf controllers had only told us what STAR to expect and furthermore what transition to expect with the landing runway; we would have been able to execute a flawless; professional descent and approach into eddf ILS runway 25L. Instead we had to state we had no idea what fix he was referring to. After inserting the osmax 25 transition to ILS runway 25L; captain advised the controller that we had located the fix; however the controller requested we stay on the assigned heading. As we are all aware; communication is the key and is essential for the safe operation at all times; especially at busy international airports worldwide.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A widebody international Captain reported that EDDF ATC controllers are less than helpful in their initial STAR assignment clearances.

Narrative: Upon decent into EDDF; the Controller never did give us an expected STAR arrival. The flight plan filed did not have an expected STAR arrival either. We inserted OSMAX 2W into the arrival page. Frankfurt's Langen Radar North Controller asked us to fly direct to OSMAX and expect the ILS 25L for landing. At no point did he advise us of the arrival STAR or the transition to ILS 25L. If you look at the amount of transitions to each runway in EDDF they are numerous and as a result need to be told to the pilots. Below is the reason EDDF needs to advise pilot's of the STAR and the transition to each runway. Subsequently; he cleared us to a fix we had no idea what he was talking about. When we said we did not know what that fix was; he then gave us a heading. Captain decided to find the fix and located it on the OSMAX 25 TRANSITION to ILS runway 25L. If the EDDF Controllers had ONLY told us what STAR to expect and furthermore what TRANSITION to expect with the landing runway; we would have been able to execute a flawless; professional descent and approach into EDDF ILS runway 25L. Instead we had to state we had no idea what fix he was referring to. After inserting the OSMAX 25 transition to ILS runway 25L; Captain advised the Controller that we had located the fix; however the Controller requested we stay on the assigned heading. As we are all aware; communication is the key and is essential for the safe operation at all times; especially at busy international airports worldwide.

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.