Narrative:

Flying from sln to mci we were told to cross 15 mi east of top VOR at 5000'. When we got to about 9 mi east the controller asked for our distance and altitude. I told him we were at 9.6 mi and 6400' descending to make the 15 mi restriction. He said the restriction was 10 mi. My first officer and I both heard 15 mi, and we talked about it before I read back to the controller '15 east at 5000.' after talking to several other pilots in our company I found that we are given 5 east, 10 east, 8 east and 15 east. It seems to vary with the controller. As much as we do this type of arrival, it should be made more standard with one distance and altitude, or use an intersection as a crossing restriction.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR SMT UNDERSHOT CROSSING RESTRICTION ON DESCENT WHEN CTLR DID NOT CORRECT ERRONEOUS READBACK. OPERATIONAL DEVIATION.

Narrative: FLYING FROM SLN TO MCI WE WERE TOLD TO CROSS 15 MI E OF TOP VOR AT 5000'. WHEN WE GOT TO ABOUT 9 MI E THE CTLR ASKED FOR OUR DISTANCE AND ALT. I TOLD HIM WE WERE AT 9.6 MI AND 6400' DSNDING TO MAKE THE 15 MI RESTRICTION. HE SAID THE RESTRICTION WAS 10 MI. MY F/O AND I BOTH HEARD 15 MI, AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE I READ BACK TO THE CTLR '15 E AT 5000.' AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL OTHER PLTS IN OUR COMPANY I FOUND THAT WE ARE GIVEN 5 E, 10 E, 8 E AND 15 E. IT SEEMS TO VARY WITH THE CTLR. AS MUCH AS WE DO THIS TYPE OF ARR, IT SHOULD BE MADE MORE STANDARD WITH ONE DISTANCE AND ALT, OR USE AN INTXN AS A XING RESTRICTION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.