2010-09 · NASA ASRS report 910288
A C-750 flight crew felt ATC had unreasonable expectations about their ability to comply with a clearance given too close to the waypoint to which they were cleared.
During climbout from PNE we were being vectored by ATC with the autopilot on. I was the Pilot Flying. He had us on a 180 degree heading. As we were leveling at 10;000 FT we were given; 'cleared direct DITCH; J255; on course.' The course of J255 from DITCH is 049 degrees. I hit direct ditch on the FMS and NAV. I am not sure how far from DITCH we were but it was only a few miles. Before the aircraft was able to make the 131 degree turn we were basically on top of DITCH and the FMS was leading into the turn to the airway. We still overshot the airway but were correcting back. This is when the Controller came back and asked us if we showed ourselves on course. My Copilot told him we were correcting back. The Controller then said he showed us deviating off the airway. I got on the radio and told him that we had been too close to the point and were unable to turn any tighter at that speed. We were between 280 and 290 KTS. He gave us a 350 heading and told us to rejoin the airway and slow to 250 KTS which we did.Shortly after this he cleared us to FL230. After initiating the climb he told us to cross the next fix at or above FL180. At this point we were only 4 miles from the fix and about 15;000 FT. I replied that with the 250 KTS speed there was no way we could make the crossing altitude. He then canceled the speed restriction and I pulled the nose up. We made it by about 500 FT.This Controller had unrealistic expectations of our capabilities. He did not seem to understand the distance it takes to turn at these speeds or climb capabilities. When the turn started we did not know where we would be until the turn was nearly completed and the aircraft was already trying to intercept the course. Too late to inform him that the turn was too tight. During this whole episode I kept expecting another voice to come on the radio and change something; as a Supervisor would. I feel that maybe there should be more emphasis put on aircraft capabilities during controller training.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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