B737 Flight Crew reports being cleared direct to GEELA on the GEELA 4 arrival and asked if they will make the crossing restriction. The crew is not aware of a restriction at GEELA and is informed of a NOTAM requiring 17000 feet at GEELA.
Synopsis
B737 Flight Crew reports being cleared direct to GEELA on the GEELA 4 arrival and asked if they will make the crossing restriction. The crew is not aware of a restriction at GEELA and is informed of a NOTAM requiring 17000 feet at GEELA.
Narrative
Descending via GEELA Arrival into PHX. Given vector heading for spacing after MOHAK. ABQ Center then cleared us RNAV direct to GEELA; then a descend via clearance for the remainder of the arrival. Assigned speed was 250 KIAS which we maintained. Next charted crossing was not for GEELA but for MNSTR between 16;000'/15;000'. During the descent approaching GEELA; ABQ Controller asked if we were going to make the GEELA restriction at 17;000'. After checking our charts; we did not see any restriction for any altitude at GEELA. I then asked ABQ what altitude he wanted to which he replied; 'It's in the NOTAMS.' I confirmed crossing GEELA at 17;000' and made the restriction. My First Officer started looking through the weather packet and there was no restriction listed for GEELA at 17;000'; however; there was a temporary NOTAM to cross GEELA at 16;000'; not 17;000' that the Controller had asked us to comply with; and which we did comply with. I guess with the rushed Crew change and late departure I missed the NOTAM for GEELA. However; we did comply with the clearance that the Controller 'implied' at GEELA which he gave as 17;000'.Over the past several months; maybe couple years; NOTAM'd altitude and speed changes on the GEELA Arrival have been given as reminders on the cover page of the weather packets for flights going into PHX. Seems like we all got used to having those and relying on those instead of sifting through the lines of minutia which rarely applies to our flights. Today it did apply to our flight and I missed it. Seems like the Controller missed it too as he 'cleared' us to an altitude at GEELA which was not the correct NOTAM'd altitude.
Second reporter narrative
On vector into PHX. ATC cleared us direct to GEELA; then descend via the GEELA 4 Arrival Runway 27L transition. Aircraft was set up for direct GEELA and we were looking to make the MNSTR restriction. About 5 prior to GEELA; ATC asked if we were going to make the 17;000' restriction at GEELA. We stated we didn't know we had one but could make it. ATC stated that it was in the NOTAM's and then cleared us to another frequency. We easily made GEELA at 17;000' but the NOTAM stated; 'GEELA 4 (RNAV) restriction...cross GEELA intersection at or below 16;000' at 250 knots.' So we made the ATC 17;000' restriction; but don't know if they wanted us at 17;000' as stated by ATC or 16;000' or below per the NOTAM.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.